Intro 

Am 
                                         G       Am 
There was a lad in Glesga town, Ramensky was his name 
F             C                G              Am 
Johnny didnae know it then but he was set for fame 
                                G              Am 
He did a wee bit job or two, he blew them open wide 
    F                        C                  F          G      
But they caught him and they tried him and they bunged him right inside 

F                       C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go 


                                              G        Am 
And when they let him out he said he'd do his best but then 
   F               C               Am         G      
He yielded tae temptation and they bunged him in again 
Am                                             G    Am 
Now Johnny made the headlines, entertained the boys below 
        F                  C               F      G       Am 
When he climbed up tae the prison roof and gave a one-man show 


      F                 C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go 


                                           G     Am 
But when the war was raging the brass-hats had a plan 
            F         C                Am 
Tae purloin some information, but they couldnae find a man 

So they nobbled John in prison, asked if he would take a chance 
          F                C         F          G        Am 
Then they dropped him in a parachute beyond the coast of France 


      F                 C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go 


                                       G      Am 
Then Johnny was a hero, they shook him by the hand 
    F                                         C    Am 
For stealing secret documents frae the German High Command 

So Johnny was rewarded for the job he did sae well 
     F             C               F      G       Am 
They granted him a pardon frae the prison and the cell 

      F                C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go 

                                          G         Am 
But Johnny was in error when he tried his hand once more 
         F               C                Am     G         Am 
For they caught him at a blastin', and it wasnae worth the score 

                                         G         Am 
The jury pled for mercy, but the judge's voice was heard 
    F               C            G               Am 
Ten years without remission, and that's my final word 
                                             G               Am 
Ten years, my lord, that's far too long, wee Johnny cried in vain 
    F              C               G              Am 
For if you send me up for ten I'll never come out again 

                                        G              Am 
Oh give me another chance, my lord, I'm tellin' you no lie 
    F                         G                    Am 
But if you send me up for ten I'll sicken and I'll die 

      F                C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go 

                                          G         Am 
Now Peterhead's a fortress, its walls are thick and stout 
       F                                C         G       Am 
But it couldnae hold wee Johnny when he felt like walking out 
                                          G    Am 
Five times he took a powder, he left them in a fix 
    F              C                 F       G        Am 
And every day they sweat and pray in case he makes it six 

      F                C        Em 
Alley-ee alley-ay alley-oo alley-oh 
F                   C 
Open up your prison gates  
    F            Am 
And let Ramensky go