[Verse 1:]
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

[Chorus:]
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

[Verse 2:]
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

[Chorus]

[Verse 3:]
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

[Chorus]