Lyrics:

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, 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 Then he shot her in the leg And this is what she said Only a lad You really can't blame him Only a lad Society made him Only a lad He's our responsibility 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 His parents gave up they couldn't influence his attitude Nobody could help The little man had no gratitude And when he stole the care 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 It's not his fault that he can't believe It's not his fault that he can't behave Society made him go astray Perhaps if we're nice he'll go away Perhaps he'll go away He'll go away (repeat chorus) -acapo