Johnnie Needs A Dime

 

Johnnie Needs a Dime just to get himself right.                                                                      

His little lady ain’t turned a trick tonight.

She was out on the stroll, man, hittin on an old man.

Out on the stroll, man, hittin on an old man.

 

Then along come the man in the black and white

An’ they busted Johnnie’s lady again tonight.

He’s fallen on hard times but Johnnie is a friend of mine.

Yeah, he’s fallen on hard times but Johnnie is a friend of mine.

 

So I find myself down at the Touch of Class.

An’ I find myself downing another glass.

I’m breakin’ the old rules.  I’m playin’ with new fools.

Breakin’ my own rules.  I’m playin’ with new fools.

 

I stumble back out of that boulevard bar.

I fumble for my keys and I look for my car.

I think about headin’ on home.  I think about bein’ alone. 

Think about headin’ on home.  I think about bein’ alone. 

 

Then I see Darlene. She’s back out on the street

Smilin’ at the men that she’d like to meet.

Until sunup from sundown she walks the streets of this town.

Until sunup from sundown she walks the streets of this town.

 

Sayin, “Hey there mister ain’t you lookin’ for a date?

For a fifty dollar bill I could make you feel great.

She say, “Wait a minute baby.  Spend some time with a lady.” 

“Wait a minute baby.  Spend some time with a lady.” 

 

She says she’s got a room at the Star Motel.

I can find it alright.  I know the boulevard well.

I stop in at the Happy Times an’ I buy us a bottle of wine. 

Stop in at the Happy Times an’ I buy us a bottle of wine. 

 

Darlene says things ain’t goin’ so good.

She’d like to cut this scene if she thought that she could.

She’s feelin’ kinda low now.  She got no place to go now. 

Feelin’ kinda low now.  She got no place to go now. 

   

Yeah an’ Johnnie Needs a Dime just to get himself right.

His little lady ain’t turned a trick tonight.

Johnnie’s out on the stroll, man, ain’t he lookin’ like an old man. 

Out on the stroll, man, ain’t he lookin’ like an old man. 

 

Now here come the man in the black and white.

An’ they’re gonna bust Johnny again tonight.

He’s fallen on hard times but Johnnie is a friend of mine. 

Yeah, he’s fallen on hard times but Johnnie is a friend of mine.

 

© 1982 - RDT