He left home at 16, the days go by like years
He didn't get much schooling but he learned a lot on the road
He knows one thing, not to trust no one but himself
He hopes and prays but he knows his days are numberedWell, he hits the bottle to wipe out his fears
But no one's there to wipe away those whiskey tears
He's alone against the worldHe wonders if his girl back home is missing him at all
He'd like to listen to her voice but he's too poor to call
He told her that he's send for her if he could get ahead
By now she's probably given him up for deadNight after night, he's all alone
Each step he takes, he's farther from home
There's no one to help him, his parents don't care
He stumbles through life on a wing and a prayerHe boards a bus in L.A., winds up in New Orleans
Bums a couple of cigarettes from a sailor in the depot
Steals a couple of purses and buys himself a dingy room
No matter where he stays, he knows his days are numberedWell, he slams the needle to wipe out his fears
But there's no one there to wipe out those junkie tears
He's all alone against the worldHe wound up in Raleigh with a bullet in his leg
"You should have seen the other guy", that's all he had to say
Two bits away from help but he's afraid they will reuse his call
He knows his days are numberedStranded in the Midwest and he don't know where to go
The West Coast cops are on his tail, the east is full of snow
He thinks, "4, 5, 6 more years of this, I'll lose my head
And a few more years of crazy, I'll probably end up dead
Oh god, I wish I was back home in my bed"Night after night he's all alone
Each step he takes is farther from home
There's no one to help him, his parents don't care
He stumbles through life on a wing an a prayerHe's crying, he's dyingIt was only last year that he turned seventeen
Now this ain't the life that a young boy should leadHe's alone against the world
Songwriters
Chris Goss; Tim HarringtonPublished by
SPIRIT ONE MUSIC Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.