Johnny Was
Bob Marley · Rastaman Vibration
Woman hold her head and cry
Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
From a stray bullet
Woman hold her head and cry
Accompanying her was a passer-by
Who saw the woman cry
Wondering can she work it out
Now she knows that the wages of sin is death
The gift of God is life
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
oh yeah
Woman hold her head and cry
Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
Just because of the system
Woman hold her head and cry
Comforting her I was passing by
And I saw the woman cry
She cried, oh, oh, oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
Never did a thing wrong
Take it down
Johnny went out on a Saturday night
Never hurt anybody never started no bar room fight
Johnny never did nobody no wrong
Never hurt anybody never hurt anybody
Johnny was a good man
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...
Johnny was a good man
(Repeat)
In a top floor flat in the middle of the night
There's a man with rifle and Johnny in his sight,
I said oh no, we can't let that kind of thing happen here no more
Oh no
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...
A single shot rings out in a Belfast night and I said oh
Johnny was a good man
Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bears
Johnny (Repeat)
Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
From a stray bullet
Woman hold her head and cry
Accompanying her was a passer-by
Who saw the woman cry
Wondering can she work it out
Now she knows that the wages of sin is death
The gift of God is life
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
oh yeah
Woman hold her head and cry
Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
Just because of the system
Woman hold her head and cry
Comforting her I was passing by
And I saw the woman cry
She cried, oh, oh, oh, oh
Johnny was a good man
Never did a thing wrong
Take it down
Johnny went out on a Saturday night
Never hurt anybody never started no bar room fight
Johnny never did nobody no wrong
Never hurt anybody never hurt anybody
Johnny was a good man
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...
Johnny was a good man
(Repeat)
In a top floor flat in the middle of the night
There's a man with rifle and Johnny in his sight,
I said oh no, we can't let that kind of thing happen here no more
Oh no
Johnny, Johnny, Johnny...
A single shot rings out in a Belfast night and I said oh
Johnny was a good man
Can a woman's tender care
Cease towards the child she bears
Johnny (Repeat)
Johnny Was
Bob Marley's "Johnny Was" stands as a cornerstone of reggae history, delivered with the characteristic warmth and rhythmic precision of his 1977 album, Rastaman Vibration. The track captures the essence of the Jamaica sound, blending social commentary with an infectious groove that defined the genre's global appeal. As a lead single from this pivotal release, the song showcases Marley's ability to weave narratives of everyday life into anthems of resilience and hope. Its enduring popularity stems from its melodic structure and the artist's masterful vocal delivery, which remains a staple in reggae collections worldwide.