Runaway Child Running Wild
Earl Van Dyke Lyrics

You played hooky from school
You skipped school

And you can't go out to play, yeah
You are grounded and can't leave your room/house

Mama said, "For the rest of the week
Your mother gave you a punishment that lasts for a week

In your room you gotta stay, yeah"
You have to stay in your room

Now you feel like the whole world's picking on you
You feel like everyone is against you

But deep down inside you know it ain't true
You know that it isn't really true

You're in punishment 'cause your mother
Your are being punished because your mother wants to discipline you

Wants to raise you the right way, yeah
Your mother wants to teach you how to behave properly

But you don't care 'cause you already made up your mind
You don't care about your mother's intentions because you've already decided what you want to do

You wanna run away, yeah
You want to leave home and run away

You're on your way
You have left home and are on your own now

Runaway child, running wild
You are a runaway and you are acting recklessly

Better go back home where you belong
It's better for you to go back home where you belong

Roaming through the city going nowhere fast
You are wandering aimlessly through the city

You're on your own at last
You are finally independent

Hey, it's getting late, where will you sleep?
It's getting dark and you need a place to sleep

You're getting kinda hungry, you forgot to bring something to eat
You are feeling hungry but you didn't bring any food with you

Oh, lost with no money
You are lost and have no money

You start to cry
You begin to cry

But remember, you left home wanting to be grown
You have to remember that you left home with a desire to be independent

So dry your weeping eyes
Stop crying

Sirens screaming down neon lighted streets
Police sirens are blaring through the neon lit streets

You want your mama, run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You miss your mother and wish she was with you

Are they looking for you? You're frightened and confused
You are scared and don't know what to do

I want my mama, run, run, run, run, run, run, run
You desperately want to see your mother

But she's much too far away, she can't hear a word you say
Your mother is too far away and cannot hear you calling for her

You've heard some frightening news on the radio
You heard some scary news on the radio

About little boys running away from home
The news is about other children who have also run away from home

And the parents don't see them no more
The parents of the other runaway children haven't seen their children

You wanna stop to hitch a ride, I know
You want to hitchhike

But your mama told you never trust a stranger
Your mother warned you never to trust strangers

And you don't know which way to go
You don't know where to go

Streets are dark and deserted
The streets are empty and dark

Not a sound nor sign of life
It's eerily quiet and no one is around

How you long to hear your mother's voice
You miss your mother and want to hear her voice

'Cause you're lost and alone
You feel lost and lonely

But remember
You need to remember

You made the choice
It was your decision to leave home

You're lost in this great big city
You are lost in the big city

Not a familiar face, ain't it a pity
You don't recognize anyone and it's unfortunate

Runaway child, running wild
You are a runaway and acting reckless

You better go back home where you belong
It's better for you to return home