Story Behind The Song

The first verse of this song just came to me one day - lyrics and melody all at once. I didn't know which direction to take it though. I was stuck there for quite a while until one day I was cutting the grass and "He skidded off the road on highway three. Through Lucy through the windshield, she slammed into a tree" came to me. The rest of the song was finished rather quickly.

Song Description

Johnny Walker, a moonshine-swigging redneck , joyrides around town. He ends up killing a female passenger while out on one of his jaunts. The singer relates how the news of his sister's death affects the family. He is also enraged that the drunken driver is only lightly punished and he decides to take justice into his own hands. Hence: "Johnny's Last Ride"

Lyrics

Knockin? down the highway signs
Weavin? up the hill
Here comes Johnny Walker
In his brother?s Coupe de ville
Chasin? the pedestrians
Laughin? as they run
Give that man his car keys
He may as well have a gun

I used to ride around with him
I knew old Johnny well
He used to date my sister Lucy
She?d visit him in jail
He?s the king of DUIs, you know
His second home?s a cell
Drinks that old corn liquor
Like water from a well

He?d pick Lucy up at night
They?d go to town
Always had a jar of corn
Yeah, Johnny could pour it down

They were goin? to the dance one night
His drinkin? had begun
He had a half a gallon
Yeah, Johnny was havin? fun
With a cloud of dust
And screamin? tires
The caddy hit the road
They only went a couple miles
When Johnny lost control

He skidded of the road on highway 3
Threw Lucy through the windshield, she slammed into a tree

When the family got the call that night
It tore our world apart
And when they put poor Lucy in the ground
It broke my mama?s heart
They put old Johnny in a car
And hauled him off to jail
He only did a couple days
Then they let him out on bail

He didn?t even head for home, he hit a bar
Drinkin? shots ?til two a.m., then he stumbled to his car

Now Lucy?s gone and life goes on
But justice ain?t been done
So I went into town one day
And bought myself a gun
Every time I see him ridin? ?round
It gets me seein? red
And I won?t have a minute?s peace
?Til Johnny Walker?s dead

So I?m waiting by his house, just ?round the curve
Thinkin? ?bout how much I miss Lucy and buildin? up my nerve

Knockin? down the highway signs
Weavin? up the hill
Here comes that old drunken soul
In his brother?s Coupe de ville
When I get old Johnny in my sights
My tensions start to ease
I put my finger on the trigger
And give it a little squeeze