His day started so early, after just an hour of sleep
He jumps off a cattle car
Invisible to those coming toward him
He grabs from the mandarin crate and bolts
Locks onto the tourist on the corner
Polishes the dirt off his shoes without asking
During vacation season business booms here
He keeps the shiny Rolex firmly in his sights
When he glances through the open window
Sneaks skillfully up to the open window
Before anyone hears anything
Above the rooftops of the city
In this moment he can be a kid
Shakes off the street dust
All the lights blurred
Both ears pricked, ready to escape fast
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And they chase after him, quick as he is
He squeezes through a slit and steps on shards
Suppresses the pain so he won't scream
He limps on so he won't get caught
Cops show up, he uses older people as a shield
Until he collapses, hit one, hit two
The tourists shocked, but do nothing
Because he harms the cityscape
He's just a street kid who's too young for jail
And when that one moment comes, he breaks free
Hidden in the shadow of night
In this moment he can be a kid
Shakes off the street dust
One eye still awake, all the lights blurred
Both ears pricked, ready to escape fast
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
His stomach growls, he waits a sec, takes a breath
Runs into the designer watch store
The sheep on the black strap
The hard way, they pay for goods only the street rate
Sad scenes in dusty light
They sell haze to the younger tourists
He sees the older ones in Audi TTs
Or sitting at the Ritz with ostrich fillets
His dream blew away in the shimmering air
The parents are sick, no helping hand
He became a man himself here, 'cause somebody has to
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming
And he runs when they come
Coming, coming, coming, coming, coming, coming