Alone Against The World

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 numbered

Well, 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 world

He 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 dead

Night 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 prayer

He 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 numbered

Well, 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 world

He wound up in Raleigh with a bullet in his leg

You should have seen the other guy; as all he had to say

Two bits away from help but he's afraid they will reuse his call

He knows his days are numbered

Stranded 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 prayer

(He's crying, He's dying)

It was only last year

That he turned seventeen

Now this ain't the life

That a young boy should lead

He's alone against the world!