Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On
Reckoning with Conscience: Johnny's Stand in 1940s America
Lyrics
Johnny got up one morning; he went down to the company store
Johnny starts his day, goes to the company store.
Got him a big box of bullets to fit into his .44
Johnny buys bullets for his .44 caliber gun.
The store man said, "Son, are you gonna work? You know you owe me too much to stop."
The store man asks if Johnny will work, as he owes money.
John said, "I got a little workin' to do but I ain't goin' by your clock."
Johnny refuses to work on the store man's schedule.
People said John was a slacker, 'cause he wouldn't fight in their war
People criticize John for not joining the war.
A man wasn't much if he wouldn't fight back in 1940 and 4
During 1944, not fighting in the war is seen as unacceptable.
The doctor said John was just too sick to go, but the people said that he was a coward
Despite being sick, John is called a coward for not joining the war.
And one of the men makin' fun of him was a fellow named Milton Howard
Milton Howard mocks John for being a slacker.
Milton was down at the cold spring, a-drinkin' from a mason jar
Milton is drinking at the cold spring and advises John to work.
He said, "John, you better get yourself to work or you're gonna fool around 'til you get fired."
Ignoring Milton's advice, John shoots him with his .44.
John blew the dust from his old .44, put two holes in Milton's head
After the shooting, the cold spring turns red with blood.
When Johnny walked off to get some more shootin' done, that ol' cold spring was a-runnin' red
Encounter with Stigall boy; John suggests building a coffin.
Next guy he met was a Stigall boy, and the boy had a hammer in his hand
Stigall prays, but John shoots him before he finishes.
John said "Son, you should've built yourself a box, 'cause you're a headed for the Promised Land."
News spreads about the killings; seven people dead.
Stigall fell down to his knees to pray, and he cried "Lord, Johnny please don't shoot!"
John hides in a farmhouse, anticipating retribution.
Before he got halfway to saying "Amen", well old Johnny shot him out of his boots
People surround the farmhouse; John threatens the sheriff.
Word went out through the county, that old John had lost his head
The sheriff confronts John, but John's gun fails to fire.
The people were runnin' and screamin'; there were seven of 'em lyin' there dead
John is taken to jail, pleads guilty to murder.
Johnny hid out in a farmhouse; he had satisfaction in his eyes
Death sentence declared; John shows satisfaction.
He said "I know they're coming to get me, boys, but they ain't a-gonna take me alive."
John predicts capture but vows not to be taken alive.
People gathered 'round that old farmhouse; it was the relatives of all them dead
Relatives of the dead gather around the farmhouse.
Now John said, "If the sheriff comes through that door I'm gonna fill him plumb full of lead."
John threatens the sheriff, but his gun doesn't work.
The sheriff kicked down that old farmhouse door, but old John's gun would not shoot
John smiles at the sheriff's predicament.
Johnny just smiled at the sheriff and said, "The Lord must think a lot of you."
John is taken to jail, sentenced to death by electric chair.
They took old John to the jailhouse; he entered in a guilty plea
Last meal is consumed; John expresses gratitude.
The judge said death in the electric chair, 'cause it's murder in the first degree
John is prepared for the electric chair; death sentence confirmed.
John's last meal was a lot of fried chicken, cold beans and baby squash
John's last meal is described.
He ate every bite that they brought him, then he smiled and said, "I thank you all a lot."
John thanks those present after finishing his meal.
They put old John in the electric chair; they shaved his ankles and his head
John is placed in the electric chair, head and ankles shaved.
The preacher said, "Son, have you got something to say; in a minute you're a-gonna be dead."
The preacher asks if John has final words before execution.
John said, "I ain't no coward, and the people know that I won't run."
John asserts he's not a coward, won't run, and smiles at the warden.
Then Johnny smiled up at the warden and said, "Turn it on, turn it on, turn it on!"
John requests the electric chair to be turned on.
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