It's a lonely place for a boy to stand
in front of a magistrates frown
It's a sorrowful sight to see a child,
in vengeance, get sent down
For lack of compassion a helping hand
was turned to a punishing blow,
a helpful shove along a road
he didn't want to go
We must protect the innocent
the demagogues agree
Lock up the children now, they say,
and they will never be free
So one more boy becomes a man
at a far too tender age
as they take away his trust and hope
and lock him in a cage