JOHNNY BYE-BYE

a.k.a. BYE BYE JOHNNY

Early version

Well she drew out all her money from the Central Trust
And put her little boy on the Greyhound bus
Leavin' Memphis with a guitar in his hand
On a one-way ticket to the promised land

Now hey little girl with your red dress on
There's a party tonight down in Memphis town
I'll be going down there if you need a ride
Come on, come on, let's go tonight

How many have fallen with their dream denied
Now tell me baby are you lonesome tonight
'Cause the man on the radio says Elvis Presley died
Come on, come on, let's go tonight

Down in Dixie tonight the sky is hard and black
Comin' up over the ridge one long white Cadillac
They stand along the roadside waitin' in the heat
Bound together forever in the promise of an endless sleep

Well they found him slumped up against the drain
With a whole lot of nothin' runnin' through his veins
Well bye-bye Johnny, Johnny bye-bye
You didn't have to die, you didn't have to die

These lyrics refer to the early version of JOHNNY BYE BYE, often referred as BYE BYE JOHNNY. Performed live in 1980-1981 tour shows. The lyrics are quite similar to the original Chuck Berry Version. Related with LET'S GO. Check also the Nevada outtake and the alternative version.

Available on:

1. Tracks (disc 2- track 16)