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Track

The Chicken In Black

January 01, 1984
From: The Chicken In Black (single)
Johnny Cash - The Chicken In Black single

Songwriter: Gary Gentry

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Johnny Cash]
For two long years my head hurt bad
So the doctor checked me and he shook his head
He said, “I’m sorry to tell you but your body’s outlived your brain”
He said, “I know this doctor in New York son
And he’ll fix you up right with a brand new one”
So the head doctor met me when I stepped down off the train
He said, “We had this bank robber killed last night
His body’s shot but his brain’s alright
I’ll give you a transplant boy, and it’ll be okay”
I got the new brain in and I was feeling great
I went right back to Nashville with no headache
But something strange happened when I walked in the bank one day

[Chorus]
I said “Stick ’em up everybody, I’m robbing this place
Drop all of your money in my guitar case
Don’t nobody move and don’t nobody reach for that door
A lady said, “Why, you’re Johnny Cash!”
I said, “No ma’am, I’m the Manhattan Flash
And I am the best bank robber in New York”

[Verse 2]
Now the other night, Roy Acuff called me
He said, “John, I’d like for you to do the Opry”
So I went out on the stage, but I couldn’t sing
I got into half a verse of ’bout Walk The Line
And something snapped in that head of mine
I yelled, “Stick ’em up! Gimme your money, watches and rings”
Well I called New York and talked to that brain quack
I said, “Doc, I’ve got to have my old brain back”
He said, “I’m sorry there Mr. Cash, but I can’t do that”
He said, “I put your brain in a chicken last Monday
He singing your songs and making lots of money
And I got him signed to a ten year recording contract”
Now friends, if you see me walking down the street
Remember what your see ain’t necessarily me
And if I try to hold you up, don’t blame it on mine
But when you got ten bucks that you can blow
You ought to catch that Johnny Chicken Show
He’s done fairs and concerts dates all across the line

[Chorus]
I said “Stick ’em up everybody, I’m robbing this place
Drop all of your money in my guitar case
Don’t nobody move and don’t nobody reach for that door
A lady said, “Why, you’re Johnny Cash!”
I said, “No ma’am, I’m the Manhattan Flash
And I am the best bank robber in New York”

[Outro]
Well, I don’t pay any income tax
You don’t pay tax on money you steal
But you ought to catch that Johnny Chicken Show
Chicken In Black
Mmmmm…

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  2. Keep player open in a browser tab. Visit other pages in a separate tab.