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 Piked 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 ev'ryone 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.