Johnny Ace Is Dead

Down in Houston, Texas on a Christmas night With a gun in his hand and his name up in lights He was young and handsome, the Prince of the Blues In a sharkskin suit and alligator shoes He was flirting with some women who had come backstage He said, "Ladies, want to see me play a wild little game?" But Big Mama Thornton said, "Go sing Your Song And put that damn thing down before something goes wrong" Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, He put a 22 pistol right up to his head Then he smiled at the ladies Now Johnny Ace is dead The band leader set his saxophone down And said, "I think I better split before the cops come 'round" While the crowd in the theater slowly drifted away With their heads hung low, not sure of what to say But Big Don Robey, the record company man With big diamond rings on both of his hands Said, "I'm gonna send him back to Memphis in a refrigerated truck Cause Johnny Ace is gonna make me a million bucks." Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, He put a 22 pistol right up to his head Then he smiled at the ladies Now Johnny Ace is dead When Johnny came home to Memphis, Tennessee Everyone on Beale Street came out to see There were pimps and gamblers, husbands and wives, Women young and old all came to say goodbye And as the choirs sand and the preachers prayed Five thousand mourners marched him to his grave Well, there may be a Heaven and there may be a Hell, No one knows for sure but now Johnny Ace knows damn well. Big Mama cried, "Dear Lord," Big Mama said, He put a 22 pistol right up to his head Then he smiled at the ladies Now Johnny Ace is dead