His day started so early, after just an hour of sleep
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He jumps off a cattle car
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Invisible to those coming toward him
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He grabs from the mandarin crate and bolts
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Locks onto the tourist on the corner
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Polishes the dirt off his shoes without asking
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During vacation season business booms here
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He keeps the shiny Rolex firmly in his sights
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When he glances through the open window
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Sneaks skillfully up to the open window
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Before anyone hears anything
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Above the rooftops of the city
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In this moment he can be a kid
_____
Shakes off the street dust
_____
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
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He squeezes through a slit and steps on shards
_____
Suppresses the pain so he won't scream
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He limps on so he won't get caught
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Cops show up, he uses older people as a shield
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Until he collapses, hit one, hit two
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The tourists shocked, but do nothing
_____
Because he harms the cityscape
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He's just a street kid who's too young for jail
_____
First he plays dead
_____
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
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Runs into the designer watch store
The sheep on the black strap
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The hard way, they pay for goods only the street rate
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Sad scenes in dusty light
_____
They sell haze to the younger tourists
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He sees the older ones in Audi TTs
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Or sitting at the Ritz with ostrich fillets
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His dream blew away in the shimmering air
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The parents are sick, no helping hand
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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