beneath the bare light bulb above she gazed into the eyes of love bathed in the dirty neon light she begged him don t go out tonight if we work out somehow maybe we could find a way out baby and he laughed and said i got to go and she cried no johnny johnny no oh johnny johnny no his arms were warm and strong and young i promise i won t hurt no one oh baby when you gonna learn them folks uptown got bread to burn when they see me flash my knife they ll be fearin for their life they won t give me trouble this i know and she cried no oh johnny johnny no johnny johnny johnny no the night passed like a thousand years the tenement room had cooled her tears then came a knock upon the door two men she d never seen before did you know johnny brown miss we hate to tell you this but has he a relative you know and she cried no oh johnny johnny no johnny johnny why d you go oh johnny johnny no johnny johnny johnny no