All the boys were spottin' for a fight
Big Joe, he was ridin' high
Smacked out of his brand
Said he was gonna bust
some heads that night
All keyed up and ready
Waitin' down in the lane
Johnny, he was scared and
feelin' cold
When the fightin' started, well
Big Joe just up and
runnin' east -west
That's the way the story's told
Johnny learned his lesson hard,
that cold night in the rain,
just 16, trying to find his way.
You found out that to be a man,
it ain't what you say,
it's what you do
when it comes to the test.
What you do,
I'm trying to do your best.
Johnny joined the British Army,
he turned twenty -one
Raided in his switchblade for a bone
They said it was a man's life
Travelling the world enfor cing peace
And being paid with a phone
But when Johnny killed his first man
He realized and shared
That the army's claim to
justice wasn't true
He recalled from long ago
One night in the rain,
it ain't what you said, but you do
Johnny learned his lesson hard
That cold night in the rain
Just sixteen, tryin' to find his way
You found out that to be a man,
it ain't what you say,
it's what you do
when it comes to the test,
what you do
when you're trying to do your way.
In the falls of bloody Belfast
Johnny came of age
Found the strength to make
his lonesome stand
He refused to fire until a crowd
Of children throwing
stones was arrested
Locked up on remand
Branded coward and traitor
And forsaken by his friends
His court -martial
Was merciless an d tiny
Imprisoned for his conscience
Let it all not be in vain,
May his courage be re
membered by mankind.
Johnny learned
his lesson hard,
That cold night in the rain.
Just sixteen, trying to find his way.
You found out that to be a man,
it is what you say,
it's what you do,
when it comes to the test.
It's you do and tryin' to do your best
It's what you do and
givin' it your best
It's what you do and tryin'
your very best
They'll lock Johnny up,
trying to do his best
They'll lock Johnny up,
for giving it his best
They'll lock Johnny up,
and he's better than the rest