Runaway Child, Running Wild

You played hooky from school and you can't go out to play, yeah

Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum, bum-bum-bum-bum

Mama said, for the rest of the week, in your room, you gotta stay, yeah

Child, settle down

Bum-bum-bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum-bum-bum

Whoa-oh, now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you

Now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you

But deep down inside, you know it ain't true

You want you, it ain't true-ooh-ooh, it ain't true

Oh, child, settle down

You're in punishment 'cause your mother wants to raise you the right way, yeah

Bum-bum-bum-bum-bum, bum-bum-bum-bum

But you don't care 'cause you already made up your mind, you wanna run away, yeah

Whoa-oh, child, settle down

Bum-bum-bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum, bum-bum-bum-bum

You're on your way

Oh-oh, runaway child, running wild

Runaway child, running wild

You better go back home where you belong

Better go back home where you belong

Roaming through the city going nowhere fast

You're on your own at last

Hey, it's getting late, where will you sleep?

You gettin' kinda hungry, but you forgot to bring something to eat

Oh, lost with no money, you start to cry

But remember you left home, wantin' to be grown

So dry your weeping eyes, yeah

Dry your weeping eyes

Oh, runaway, runaway child

Try, try, with that guy

Sirens screamin' down, neon light asleep

You want your mama

Ah, they're lookin' for you, you're frightened and confused

I want my mama

But she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say

You heard some frightening news on the radio

About little boys running away from home and their parents don't see 'em no more

You want to stop and hitch a ride, I know

But your mama told you, "Never trust a stranger"

And you don't know which way to go

Must be hard, must be hard, must be hard, must be hard, must be hard, must be hard

Streets are dark and deserted, not a sound nor sign of life, huh

Oh, how you long to hear your mother's voice

'Cause you're lost and alone

But remember you made the choice

Oh, runaway child, running wild

You better go back home, where you belong

Hey, hey, hey, runaway child, running wild

You better go back home, where you belong

You're lost in this great big city

Go back home, where you belong

Not one familiar face, ain't it a pity

Go back home, where you belong

Oh, runaway child, running wild

You better go back home, where you belong

Oh, yeah

Mama, mama, mama, please, come and see about me

Oh, but she's much too far away

She can't hear a word you say

Oh, you're frightened and confused

Which way will you choose?