Music Video

Johnny Was (1976) - Bob Marley & The Wailers
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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Lead Vocals
The Wailers
The Wailers
Performer
Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
Alvin "Seeco" Patterson
Percussion
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Percussion
Carlton Barrett
Carlton Barrett
Drums
D. Kinsey
D. Kinsey
Lead Guitar
Earl Smith
Earl Smith
Guitar
I-Threes
I-Threes
Background Vocals
Judy Mowatt
Judy Mowatt
Background Vocals
Marcia Griffiths
Marcia Griffiths
Background Vocals
Rita Marley
Rita Marley
Background Vocals
Tyrone Downie
Tyrone Downie
Keyboards
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Andrew Ranken
Andrew Ranken
Songwriter
Darryl Hunt
Darryl Hunt
Songwriter
Jem Finer
Jem Finer
Songwriter
Bob Marley
Bob Marley
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Chris Blackwell
Chris Blackwell
Mixing Engineer
Alex Sadkin
Alex Sadkin
Mixing Engineer
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Aston "Family Man" Barrett
Mixing Engineer
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Bob Marley & The Wailers
Producer
Errol Thompson
Errol Thompson
Recording Engineer
Jack Nuber
Jack Nuber
Mixing Engineer
Sylvan Morris
Sylvan Morris
Recording Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Woman hold her head and cry
'Cause her son had been shot down in the street and died
From a stray bullet
[Verse 2]
Woman hold her head and cry
Explaining to her was a passerby
Who saw the woman cry
Wondering how can she work it out
Now she knows that the wages of sin is death, yeah
Gift of Jah is life
She cried, ah-um, I-I know
Johnny was a good man
Johnny was a good, good
Good, good, good, good
Good, good, good, good, man
Johnny was a good man
She cried
She cried
[Verse 3]
Wo-ooh, woman hold her head and cry
As her son has been shot down in the street and died
Just because of the system
[Verse 4]
Woman hold her head and cry
Comforting her I was passing by
She complained, then she cried
Cry, yeah I know now
No I know, I know now
(Johnny was a good man)
Said I know
(Never did a thing wrong)
Johnny was a good man
[Verse 5]
Can a woman tender care
She cried, never did a thing wrong
Cease towards the child she bear
Johnny was a good man
Woman cry
Woman
She cried, wo-oh she cried
Yeah, Johnny was a good man
[Verse 6]
Can a woman tender care
Cease towards the child she bear
Written by: Rita Marley
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