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Johnny Ace Is Dead Lyrics by Dave Alvin

Eleven Eleven

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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
Credits
Dave Alvin

Dave Alvin

About “Johnny Ace Is Dead” by Dave Alvin

Read the complete lyrics to "Johnny Ace Is Dead" by Dave Alvin from the album "Eleven Eleven". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Johnny Ace Is Dead" is performed by Dave Alvin. from the album "Eleven Eleven" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Johnny Ace Is Dead", explore more songs by Dave Alvin using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Johnny Ace Is Dead" is credited to Dave Alvin. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Johnny Ace Is Dead" appears on "Eleven Eleven".

Visit the Dave Alvin artist page at /artist/dave-alvin for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.