[Verse 1: Dennis Edwards] You played hooky from school And you can't go out to play, yeah Mama said for the rest of the week In your room you gotta stay, yeah Now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you (Now you feel like the whole world's pickin' on you) But deep down inside you know it ain't true You've been punished 'cause your mother Wants to raise you the right way, yeah But you don't care 'Cause you already made up your mind You want to run away, yeah You're on your way [Chorus: The Temptations & (Dennis Edwards)] Run away child, running wild (Run away child, running wild) Better come back home (Better come back home) Where you belong (Where you belong) [Verse 2: The Temptations] Roaming through the city Going nowhere fast You're on your own at last Hey, it's getting late, where will you sleep Gettin' kinda hungry You forgot to bring something to eat Oh, lost with no money, you start to cry But remember you left home Wanting to be grown So dry your weepin' eyes Siren screamin' down, neon light is flickin' You want your mama Ah, there's nothing for you You're frightened and confused I want my mama But she's much too far away She can't hear a word you say You heard some frightening news on the radio About little boys running away from home And their parents don't see them no more You want to hitch a ride and go home But your mama told you never trust a stranger And you don't know which way to go Streets are dark and deserted Not a sound nor sign of life How you long to hear your mother's voice 'Cause you're lost and alone But remember you make the choice, oh [Chorus: The Temptations] Runaway child, running wild Better go back home where you belong, hey hey hey Run away child, running wild Better go back home where you belong [Bridge: Dennis Edwards & (The Temptations)] You're lost in this great big city (Go back home where you belong) Not one familiar face, ain't it a pity? (Go back home where you belong) Oh, runaway child, running wild You better go back home where you belong, oh yeah [Outro: Dennis Edwards] Mama, mama please come and see about me Oh, but she's much too far away She can't hear a word you say I want my mama Oh, you're frightened and confused Which way will you choose?