Only A Lad - Oingo Boingo

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell

Everyone said, «If you don’t get straight, you’ll surely go to hell»

But Johnny didn’t care

He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old

He didn’t wanna do what he was told

Just a prankster

A juvenile gangster

His teachers didn’t understand, they kicked him out of school

At a tender early age just because he didn’t want to learn things

Had other interests

He liked to burn things

The lady down the block

She had a radio that Johnny wanted, oh, so bad

So he took it the first chance he had

And then he shot her in the leg

But this is what she said:

(He's only a lad) You really can’t blame him

(Only a lad) Society made him

(Only a lad) He’s our responsibility

Oh, oh, whoa whoa

(Only a lad) He really couldn’t help it

(Only a lad) He didn’t want to do it

(Only a lad) He’s underprivileged and abused

Perhaps a little bit confused

Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa

Whoa whoa whoa

Oh, whoa whoa whoa

His parents gave up, they couldn’t influence his attitude

Nobody could help, the little man had no gratitude

And when he stole the car

Nobody dreamed that he would try to take it so far

He didn’t mean to hit the poor man

Who had to go and die

It made the judge cry

(Only a lad) He really couldn’t help it

(Only a lad) He didn’t want to do it

(Only a lad) He’s underprivileged and abused

Perhaps a little bit confused

Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa

It’s not his fault that he can’t behave

Society’s made him go astray

Perhaps if we’re nice, he’ll go away

Perhaps he’ll go away, he’ll go away-ay

(Only a lad) You really can’t blame him

(Only a lad) Society made him

(Only a lad) Is he our responsibility?

Hey there, Johnny, you really don’t fool me

You get away with murder and you think it’s funny

You don’t give a damn if we live or if we die

Oh, oh, oh, oh whoa whoa whoa

Hey there, Johnny boy, I hope you fry!

Oh, whoa whoa whoa

Oh, whoa whoa whoa, oh-oh