Sunday Song Lyric:

I doubt many Academy Award nominees have written songs defending capitalism. That makes composer Danny Elfman the exception. His original score for Big Fish is up for an Oscar tonight. Prior to becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest soundtrack men – his credits include Batman, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure, Good Will Hunting, Spiderman, and Men in Black – Elfman was the front man for Oingo Boingo, the LA-based cult rock band. In that role, Elfman penned occasional hits, such as Dead Man’s Party, as well as the aforementioned Capitalism.

In support of Elfman’s nomination – and because I’m still steamed about my car – I thought it appropriate to make today’s song lyric Oingo Boingo’s first hit, Only a Lad.

Johnny was bad, even as a child everybody could tell
Everyone said if you don’t get straight
You’ll surely go to hell
But Johnny didn’t care
He was an outlaw by the time that he was ten years old
He didn’t wanna do what he was told
Just a prankster, juvenile gangster

His teachers didn’t understand
They kicked him out of school
At a tender early age
Just because he didn’t want to learn things
(Had other interests)
He liked to burn things

The lady down the block
She had a radio that Johnny wanted oh so bad
So he took it the first chance he had
Then he shot her in the leg
And this is what she said
Only a lad – You really can’t blame him
Only a lad – Society made him
Only a lad – He’s our responsibility
Only a lad – He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad – He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad – He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

His parents gave up they couldn’t influence his attitude
Nobody could help
The little man had no gratitude
And when he stole the care
Nobody dreamed that he would
Try to take it so far
He didn’t mean to hit the poor man
Who had to go and die
It made the judge cry
Only a lad – He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad – He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad – He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

It’s not his fault that he can’t believe
It’s not his fault that he can’t behave
Society made him go astray
Perhaps if we’re nice he’ll go away
Perhaps he’ll go away
He’ll go away

Only a lad – He really couldn’t help it
Only a lad – He didn’t want to do it
Only a lad – He’s underprivileged and abused
Perhaps a little bit confused

Hey there Johnny you really don’t fool me
You get away with murder
And you think it’s funny
You don’t give a damn if we live or if we die
Hey there Johnny boy
I hope you fry!