Johnny said, mom, I’m gone 
I’m ditching this town 
Ain’t gonna catch me hanging around 
Hollywood is the place for me 
I’m gonna be a star ma, wait and see 
No place to stay, no food to eat 
Started pushing [bad word] just to make ends meet 
Living too fast, there was no escape 
God save Johnny before it’s too late 

On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
He packed his bags and headed west 
To beat the odds and to do his best 
You could hear his mama cry 
Don’t go, cause you’re gonna die 

Johnny said things are getting bad 
Don’t think they’ll get good 
I got to get off this crack 
Yeah, I think I should 
life of crime ain’t the life for me 
No place to stay and no food to eat 
Now I’m shooting up and living on the streets 
Living too fast and there’s no way out 
God save my soul, I’ve just got to get out 

On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
He packed his bags and headed west 
To beat the odds and to do his best 
You could hear his mama cry 
Don’t go, cause you’re gonna die 

No place to stay and he couldn’t see straight 
Died shooting up and he was full of hate 
Died so fast, there was no escape 
God could have saved Johnny, but it was too late 
So [bad word] young, just a kid, what a waste 

On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
On Christmas Johnny died 
He packed his bags and headed west 
To beat the odds and to do his best 
You could hear his mama cry 
Don’t go, cause you’re gonna die