Down on Pico, a sailor on leave
finds a tattoo parlor, rolls up his sleeve.
Man takes his money, says, "What's it gonna be?"
Kid says, "A big red heart, signed 'Forever Marie'."
He'll probably want to change it in a year or two.

But now it makes him happy so what can you do?

Hour later, man says, "It's all done."
Sailor takes a look and says, "This ain't the one.
You wrote Martha, but her name is Marie."
The man says, "Yeah, this one's on me.
Here's your money, I'm sorry about it
but I've had a lot on my mind that just won't quit."

Chorus:
American hearts, American souls,
living on American rock and roll.
Turn the radio up, cruising with your friends.
Tomorrow after work, we'll do it all again.
We're just American hearts, American souls,
living on American rock and roll.
Life ain't always easy, but it's always alright.
And Johnny got a new tattoo tonight.

Well, long-distance to his sweet Marie
says, "You'll never guess what happened to me."
Tells the story, every word.
Marie starts laughing at the tales she's heard.
She says, "That's all right, you did them no harm.
It's what's in your heart, not the heart on your arm."

CHORUS
A new tattoo tonight...

Well, things worked out just according to plan.
You see Martha came back to the tattoo man.
Standing in the doorway in a haze of smoke
she said, "I hadda come home before you went flat broke.
Reading my name all around on
every poor sailor brand new in town."

American hearts, American souls,
living on American rock and roll.
Turn the radio up, cruising with your friends.
Tomorrow after work, we'll do it all again.
We're just American hearts, American souls,
living for American rock and roll.
Life ain't always easy, but it's always alright
for a wanna-be Brando with his jeans on tight.

CHORUS
He got a new tattoo...
Johnny...
Johnny...
got a new tattoo.