Lyrics:

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tellEveryone said if you don't get straightYou'll surely go to hellBut johnny didn't careHe was an outlaw by the time that he wasTen years oldHe didn't wanna do what he was toldJust a prankster, juvenile gangsterHis teachers didn't understandThey kicked him out of schoolAt a tender early ageJust because he didn't want to learn things(had other interests)He liked to burn thingsThe lady down the blockShe had a radio that johnny wanted oh so badSo he took it the first chance he hadThen he shot her in the legAnd this is what she saidOnly a ladYou really can't blame himOnly a ladSociety made himOnly a ladHe's our responsibilityOnly a ladHe really couldn't help itOnly a ladHe didn't want to do itOnly a ladHe's underprivileged and abusedPerhaps a little bit confusedHis parents gave up they couldn't influence his attitudeNobody could helpThe little man had no gratitudeAnd when he stole the careNobody dreamed that he wouldTry to take it so farHe didn't mean to hit the poor manWho had to go and dieIt made the judge cryOnly a ladHe really couldn't help itOnly a ladHe didn't want to do itOnly a ladHe's underprivileged and abusedPerhaps a little bit confusedIt's not his fault that he can't believeIt's not his fault that he can't behaveSociety made him go astrayPerhaps if we're nice he'll go awayPerhaps he'll go awayHe'll go away(repeat chorus)-acapo