Under the 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 the roof sharing one room
nobody cared about them under one roof
sharing onr 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 Jonny 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 the 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 didhn'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 whar 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 face my daddy I'm gonna show the world who I'm living for.
And if I loose my job if I loose my life you'll know one thing is true -
they can take away anything from me but they won't take me from you."
And at five thirty Billy's daddy waited at the factory for him to come
and how he did degrade him he cut him and he slayed him
and he spat on him in front of everyone
As Billy lay dying his papa started crying
the cops appeared and threw him in the van
and all because the person who was the first to give him love
had been a man.