Am                 C         G        Am
Johnny was working hard just like his father,
        F                     G       Am
cutting lumber at the sawmill all day through.
       G                   C      F
In the evening hanging out at the diner,
         G                              Am
watching Betty working, and her eyes so blue.


Am            C         G      Am
Betty was the girl he'd always wanted,
              F               G     Am
but she was married to a man doing time.
       G                         C      F
He was violent and mean, Bobby was his name.
      G                                    Am
She knew when he got out, he'd do another crime.


Am                           C      G     Am
He got out on parole, and heard she was untrue,
        F                    G      Am
so he beat her up real bad, and drove away.
       G                                    C      F
She explained how she had fallen down the stairs again,
    G                                             Am
but Johnny knew the truth, and swore he'd make him pay.


Am                            C         G        Am
He put the hammer down, and thundered down the road.
             F          G       Am
He drove all night from town to town.
       G                  C      F
But Bobby knew he'd come, so he waited,
         G                                   Am
and at the break of dawn he shot poor Johnny down.


Am                    C     G        Am
He set fire to the body and headed home.
              F                  G       Am
Betty was closing up the diner when he came.
       G                           C      F
She bolted the door but he brought gasoline,
         G                                     Am
and through the flames she called out Johnny's name...