The first time that he stole it was just a piece of candy The next time took a bill from the wallet of his daddy Then he and a friend broke into a house on the weekend Before long hit a store now he's looking for a big score When he was a boy his daddy said don't be a thief Take my advice one day you're gonna pay don't throw your life away Got a gun copped a gem started bragging to his friends Wasn't long it went wrong and it was over like a pop song The judge said needs a lesson put him in the house of detention Give him time to reconsider a life of crime for something better When he was a boy his daddy said don't be a thief Take my advice one day you're gonna pay don't throw your life away When he was a boy his daddy said don't be a thief Take my advice one day you're gonna pay don't throw your life away Went to visit a man in prison he was doing time for nicking At twenty-five he got busted now he's never going to be trusted He was talking I was listening trying hard to be a good friend An hour later when it was over we said goodbye and he told me When I was a boy my daddy said don't be a thief Take my advice one day you're gonna pay don't throw your life away