Under One Roof

Billy ran away from his home
To find a way 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 you’re down and out
The one kind of 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’s 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
And 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 one 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
Billy’s 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 laid 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