Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell 
Everyone said if you don't get straight 
You'll surely go to [bad word] 

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