Beneath the bare light bulb above she gazed into the eyes of love Bathed in the dirty neon lights 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 gotta 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-ooh, oh-oh) "Oh, baby when you gonna learn?" "Them folks uptown got bread to burn" (oh-ooh, oh-oh) 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 no" Instrumental The night passed like a thousand years The tenement room had culled her tears (oh-ooh, oh-oh) Then came a knock upon the door Two men she'd never seen before (oh-ooh, oh-oh) "Did you know Johnny Brown, miss?" "Ah, we hate to tell you this but has he a relative you know?" And she cried, "No, Johnny-Johnny no" "Oh, Johnny why'd you go?" "Johnny-Johnny no" And she cried, "No"