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