verse 1 
Bb 
Remember one Christmas I gave you Jim Carroll 
Bb/A 
Intended it as a cautionary tale 
Gm 
You said you saw yourself inside there 
F 
Dog-eared it like a how-to manual 
Bb 
Remember one summer we walked in Times Square 
Bb/A 
I showed you the zombies with hundred-inch stares 
Gm 
You took a Bic, set your hotel on fire 
F 
We took the blame, took the bags to the train 


[Refrão]

       Eb                    F 
Happy Birthday, Johnny 
 Gb           Gm     F 
Wherever you are 
     Eb                    F 
Happy Birthday, Johnny 
              Bb 
Wherever you are 


verse 2 
Bb 
The last time you called it was on New Years' Eve 
Bb/A 
You asked me for dough to get somethin' to eat 
Gm 
Since we last spoke, you live on the street 
F 
Yeah, I wouldn't believe all the shit that you seen 


[Refrão]

     Eb                    F 
Happy New Year, Johnny 
Gb    Gm   F 
Is it 23? 
       Eb                  F 
Happy New Year, Johnny 
                        Bb 
Are the lights on the trees? 


verse 3 
Bb 
When I said, Let me think, and you yelled through your teeth 
Bb/A 
Accused me of actin' like all royalty 
Gm 
Always for show, no true charity 
F 
You saw me on magazines and TV 


verse 4 
Bb 
But if they only knew the real version of me 
Bb/A 
Only you know the secrets, the swamp, and the fear 
Gm 
What happened to blood, our family? 
F 
Annie, how could you do this to me? 


Outro 
Eb F  Gb        Gm           F 
     Of course, I blame me 
         Eb                     F 
When you get free, Johnny 
                  Bb 
I hope you find peace