Well, it's over the wall and across the yard
Till he was on the other side
And the cold night air upon his brow
And he commenced to run under the cover of night
And he never knew he could run so fast
As the cold night air burned in his chest
And his steps faster than his beating heart
And gracious moon to light his way
And it's run, Johnny, run
Run, Johnny, run
You better run, Johnny, run into the light
Of the rising moon
And the briars and the brambles tore his skin
And there's times he fell down but got up again
And his steaming breath in the starry dark
He was straining his ears for the guard dogs' noise
And that's why he run through that icy stream
For to throw them dogs from off of his scent
And although he knew it would slow him down
Well, they would not know which way he'd gone
And it's run, Johnny, run
Run, Johnny, run
You better run, Johnny, run into the light
Of the sinking moon
The sun arose in the eastern sky
He stole some clothes from a farmer's line
And the shivering damp in the morning light
He hid his overalls right there
Bright morning air for to fill his lungs
And he run to the tune that in his heart sung
And it's easier now his way to find
Though easier too for them behind
So you'd better run, Johnny, run
Run, Johnny, run
You better run, Johnny, run into the light
Of the sinking sun
Run, oh, run, oh, keep on running
Till the moon and no one can find you, Johnny boy
Run, oh, run, oh, keep on running
Till the moon and no one can find you, Johnny boy
As the sun collapsed in the western sky
And hung with the world twixt night and day
But a misty moon had begun to climb
And with each tired step a new star shone
And it's run, Johnny, run
You gotta run, Johnny, run
You better run, Johnny, run
Into the light of the rising moon
Run, oh, run, oh, keep on running
Till the moon and no one can find you, Johnny boy
Run, oh, run, oh, keep on running
Till the moon and no one can find you, Johnny boy
