Ry Cooder - JOHNNY PORTER lyrics

(Bobby Ray Appleberry/William Cuomo)

Johnny Porter was the oldest in his family

And I remember he was almost twenty one

Y'know I can't quite explain the situation

But he broke into his father's truck and stole a gun

Mother running down the highway screaming

Johnny it's too bad, oh it's too and it's bad

And it's too bad

Well, his father wonders where he got the money

And he wonders if he got it right or wrong

Then Johnny killed a man in Pensacola, Florida

And he caught a freight train and and took off on the run

Well, run, Johnny, run

They're rolling right behind you

Run, Johnny, run

You know they're gonna find you

You come out late at night, 'cause you're running for your life

Hum, Johnny Porter

Johnny Porter

Yeah, yeah, yeah

Well, it's a shame the way you make your mother worry

And it's hurts inside to sit and watch her cry

And it will be a long time before she knows the answer

But it won't be long before she will see ya die

Well, I was standing in my front door early this morning

So sad, when I heard my name was said

Johnny Porter was no good than anybody

But I hate to see him throw his life away

Now, run, Johnny, run

They're rolling right behind you

Run, Johnny, run

You know they're gonna find you

You come out late at night, 'cause you're running for your life

Well, Johnny Porter, Johnny Porter

Found him holed up in some dark and dirty building

Heard his mother begging, "Please, let Johnny go!"

That's when John fired his pistol

As a warning and he said,

"I was born to die by the gun"

"I was born to die by the gun"

"I was born to die by the gun"