You were born by a railroad track
Never knew your ma and your pa ain't comin' back
Had to make your way the best you can
But you didn't have to steal from another man
Run boy run boy run boy run, they're gonna get you boy run boy run
They're gonna catch you, boy run boy run, run boy run boy run boy run
Think you're a man cause you're twenty one
Shot a man for nothin' and away you run
Wanted in most every state from here to Tennessee
If you're caught you'll do your runnin' hangin' from a tree
Run boy run boy run boy run, they're gonna get you boy run boy run
They're gonna catch you, boy run boy run, run boy run boy run boy run
Storm clouds lookin' down from the sky
And hangman's noose swingin' on a tree near by
The words on that tombstone that won't be read by you
Says his runnin's done at twenty one he won't see twenty two
Run boy run boy run boy run, they're gonna get you boy run boy run
They're gonna catch you, boy run boy run, run boy run boy run boy run