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!



The lady down the block

She had a radio that Johnny wanted, oh, so bad

And so he took it the first chance he had

And then he shot her in the leg

And this is what she said



(Chorus):



Only A Lad

You really can't blame him

Only A Lad

Society's made him

Only A Lad

He's our responsibility

Only A Lad

He really couldn't help it

Only A Lad

He didn't wanna do it

Only A Lad

He's underprivileged and abused

Perhaps a little bit confused



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):



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...