Little Tom, what will be your fate?
Little Tom, will you be someone great?
Do you know right from wrong, are they teaching you at home?
Or have they turned you loose to roam Little Tom?I walked into a cafe and ordered myself something to eat
When a little boy walked in with his shoes half off his feet
He said, Buy a paper, Mister, I said, How older are you son?
Seven, sir and when my papers are sold, I'll be on my way homeWhat's your name?
Thomas but everybody calls me Little Tom
They named me after my daddy but they say, I look like my mom
Why it's almost midnight son, you should be home asleepI know it but I wanted to get me a bicycle
And I gotta help mommy buy somethin' to eat
My daddy's pretty mean to usAnd he spends most of his money for wine
And he don't hold a job like most other men
'Cause well, he gets fired all the timeI said, Have somethin' to eat
Aren't you hungry?
He said, I guess a little bitI believe I have a hamburger and a glass of milk to go with it
I said, Is that enough?
He said, Make it two 'cause I ain't eat since noonWhere do you live son?
On Main Street sir
There's six of us livin' in one roomThere's me and my three brothers and my mommy and my dad
But someday, I'm gonna buy mommy a big house
If I have to turn out badMy appetite left me
As I sat there watchin' him
And I thought, he's just one of thousands
That's brought up in a home of sinWhere their parents abused their children
And forget to maker the all mankind
And then wondered why there's juvenile delinquency
When they are at fault most of the timeI bit my lip and fought back tears
As I watched the little guy leave the cafe
And I wondered, how many more children
Would be brought up that wayLittle Tom, what will be your fate?
Little Tom, will you be someone great?