Under One Roof

Billy ran away from his home to find away to live in peace

His Mama didn't give a damn about him

His Papa's on the run from the Police

When Billy hit the city - the city hit Billy

No one needs you when your down and out

Then one kind guy with the painted eyes

Picked him up and bailed him out

Under one roof sharing one room

Nobody cared about them under one roof

Sharing one room daring the world to part them

Billy found it hard to find a job to make some pay

All day looking round

Getting me down I was being turned away

And Johnny was the only one who didn't talk down

To Billy from up above and for the first time in his life

Billy found out what it felt like to be loved.

Under one roof sharing one love

Nobody cared about them under one roof

Sharing one love daring the world to part them.

Somehow Billy's Papa found out all about the style of Billy's life

And it didn't take long before he came round and he had a knife

He cut up Johnny stole all his money

He called him all the names that he could find

Said he'd wait for Billy at the factory tomorrow

And show him what they do to Billy's kind.

Under one roof sharing on love

Now the whole world knew about them

Under one roof

Sharing one love daring the world to part them.

Johnny said 'Billy we can run away from the world no more

I'm gonna fetch my daddy

I'm gonna show the world who I'm living for and if I lose my job

If I lose my life you'll know one thing is true

He can take away anything from me

But he won't take me from you.

And at five thirty dead his daddy waited at the factory

For him to come and how it did degrade

Him he cut him and he slayed him

And spat on him in front of everyone

As Billy lay dying his Papa started crying

Because the parent through him he became

And all because the person who has the first to give him love

Had been a man.