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 catch you boy, run boy run
They're gonna get 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 ran
You're wanted in most every state from here to Tennessee
And if you're caught, you'll do your runnin'
Hangin' from a tree

[Chorus]

Storm clouds lookin' down from the sky
The hangman's noose swingin' on a tree near by
A verse on a tombstone that won't be read by you
Says you're runnin's done at twenty-one
You won't see twenty-two

[Chorus]

Run, run, run, run, run...