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