Oingo Boingo — Only a Lad

[Verse 1] 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 [Chorus] (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 [Verse 2] 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 [Chorus] (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 [Bridge] 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 [Chorus] (Only a lad) You really can't blame him (Only a lad) Society made him (Only a lad) Is he our responsibility? [Outro] 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