Johnny Cash - Johnny 99: Ukulele Chords

Learn to play "Johnny 99" on your ukulele with our detailed chord guide and lyrics. This page provides everything you need to play this song on the ukulele, including lyrics integrated with chords, chord diagrams, and a key transposer to match your vocal range.

Learn Johnny 99 ukulele chords and lyrics

This section will guide you through each part of the song, providing the ukulele chords placed directly above the lyrics for easy playing. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, these elements will help you perform "Johnny 99" smoothly on your ukulele.

            D
Well they closed down the auto plant in Mahwah late last month
                                                       A
Ralph went out lookin' for a job but he couldn't find none
         D
He came home too drunk from mixin' Tanqueray and wine
                                          A               D
He got a gun shot a night clerk now they call him Johnny 99

Dawn in that part of town where when you hit red light you don't stop
Johnny's wavin' his gun around and threatin' to blow his top
When an off duty cop snuck up on him on from behind
Out in front of the club Tip Top they slapped the cuffs on Johnny 99

Chorus:
                   G                              D
Well the city supplied a public defender but the judge was mean John Brown
                                                   A
He came into the courtroom and stared poor Johnny down
         D
Well the evidence is clear gonna let the sentence fit the crime
                                      A           D
Prison for 98 and a year will make it even Johnny 99

A fist fight broke out in the courtroom they had to drag Johnny's girl away
His mama stood up and shouted judge don't take my boy this way
Well son you got any statement you'd like to make
Before the bailiff comes to forever take you away

     E
Yes judge I got debts no honest man could pay
                                                            B
The bank was holdin' my mortgage they was takin' my house away
       E
Now I ain't sayin' that makes me an innocent man
                                    B                  E
But it was more than all this that put that gun in my hand

And your honor I do believe I'd be better off dead
If you can take a man's life for the thoughts that are in his head
Then won't you sit back in that chair and think it over one more time
And let 'em shave off my hair and burn Johnny 99

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Ukulele Chord Diagrams

A

Ukulele chord A

D

Ukulele chord D

E

Ukulele chord E

G

Ukulele chord G

B

Ukulele chord B

Here you can see detailed diagrams for each ukulele chord used in the song. Utilize our key transposer to adjust the chords to a key that better fits your singing range. Simply select the desired key, and the chords throughout this page will update automatically, ensuring you can play and sing comfortably.

If you are also interested in learning how to play "Johnny 99" on the guitar, check out the chords on our sister site: Guitar Chords for "Johnny 99" by Johnny Cash.

Johnny Cash Song List