Johnny said, mom, I'm gone
I'm ditching this town
Ain't gonna catch me hanging around
Hollywood is the place for me
I'm gonna be a star ma, wait and see
No place to stay, no food to eat
Started pushing d** just to make ends meet
Living too fast, there was no escape
God save Johnny before it's too late
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
He packed his bags and headed west
To beat the odds and to do his best
You could hear his mama cry
Don't go, 'cause you're gonna die
Johnny said things are getting bad
Don't think they'll get good
I got to get off this crack
Yeah, I think I should
A life of crime ain't the life for me
No place to stay and no food to eat
Now I'm shooting up and living on the streets
Living too fast and there's no way out
God save my soul, I've just got to get out
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
He packed his bags and headed west
To beat the odds and to do his best
You could hear his mama cry
Don't go, 'cause you're gonna die
No place to stay and he couldn't see straight
Died shooting up and he was full of hate
Died so fast, there was no escape
God could have saved Johnny, but it was too late
So damn young, just a kid, what a waste
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
On Christmas Johnny died
He packed his bags and headed west
To beat the odds and to do his best
You could hear his mama cry
Don't go, 'cause you're gonna die