Key:
Introduction: C Am C C9 C Am C C9 C
Am C C9 C
Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Am C C9 C
Everyone said, "If you don't get straight, you'll surely go to Hell!"
F C
But Johnny didn't care
F
He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old
G
He didn't wanna do what he was told
Am G
Just a prankster
Am
A juvenile gangster
F C
His teachers didn't understand, they kicked him out of school
F
At a tender early age just because
G
He didn't want to learn things
Am G
Had other interests
Am
He liked to burn things!
F C
The lady down the block
F
She had a radio that Johnny wanted, oh, so bad
G
So he took it the first chance he had
Am G
And then he shot her in the leg
Am
But this is what she said
Am F
(He's only a lad) You really can't blame him
Am F
(Only a lad) Society made him
Am F G
(Only a lad) He's our responsibility
C
Oh, oh, whoa whoa
Am F
(Only a lad) He really couldn't help it
Am F
(Only a lad) He didn't want to do it
Am F G
(Only a lad) He's underprivileged and abused
C
Perhaps a little bit confused
G C Am
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa
C C9 C
Whoa whoa whoa
Am C C9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa
Am C C9 C
His parents gave up, they couldn't influence his attitude
Am C C9 C
Nobody could help, the little man had no gratitude
F C
And when he stole the car
F
Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far
G
He didn't mean to hit the poor man
Am G
Who had to go and die
Am
It made the judge cry
Am F
(Only a lad) He really couldn't help it
Am F
(Only a lad) He didn't want to do it
Am F G
(Only a lad) He's underprivileged and abused
C
Perhaps a little bit confused
G C
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa
Am
It's not his fault that he can't behave
Am
Society's made him go astray
Am
Perhaps if we're nice, he'll go away
F C F C
Perhaps he'll go away, he'll go away-ay
Am F
(Only a lad) You really can't blame him
Am F
(Only a lad) Society made him
Am F G C
(Only a lad) Is he our responsibility?
Am F
Hey there, Johnny, you really don't fool me
Am F
You get away with murder and you think it's funny
Am F
You don't give a damn if we live or if we die
G C
Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa
G C B Bb
Hey there, Johnny Boy... I hope you fry!
Am C C9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa
Am C C9 C
Oh, whoa whoa whoa, oh-oh