Coal

To every little Johnny who can hear my voice

Will you be good or naughty, time to make a choice

On Christmas there’s a great big list that gets checked twice

And your name won’t be on it if you don’t act nice

If your name gets crossed out before the year is through

You might find a surprise waitin’ there for you

Coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Johnny be good

I used to sew some wild oats, when I was your age

I caused my mother grief, caused my father rage, oh

Santa saw me sleeping saw me when awake

He knew I wasn’t being good for goodness sake

One year on Christmas morning, well, I nearly cried

When I got down my stocking and I reached inside

Coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Coal, Johnny, coal, coal

Johnny be good

My mother told me "someday you will be a man”

“With children of your own and you will understand”

“We each get to choose how we’ll act, you see”

“But we don’t get to choose what our reward will be”

I hope that you won’t have to learn this lesson too

Singing, “Johnny be good” to you

Coal, coal, coal, Johnny, coal

Coal, coal, coal, Johnny, coal

Coal, coal, coal, Johnny, coal

Coal, coal, coal, Johnny, coal

Coal

Oh, Johnny be good