The Delinquent lyrics

Oh the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

Well, Costello was the lawyer

And DeSapio was there

And they made a lot of motions

And their clamor filled the air

And they said it was outrageous

That His Honor had to be

Hauled up before the common folk

And forced to make a plea

But the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

And the father of the boy

He was prosecutor here

And he made the accusation

And he spoke up loud and clear

And he pointed to the pris'ner

A member of the bar

And he said, "A crew of gangsters

Have put you where you are"

And the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

And he said, "I am a voter

But my vote is less than straw

For the gunmen, they elect you

And they're out beyond the law

And the gangsters rule the city

And they're gangsters, one and all

From the financiers in Wall Street

To the clowns in city hall

And the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

"So the boys in this big city

Learn the lesson, every one

If they want to rule the Mayor

They will have to shoot a gun"

So they form their little street gangs

On the model that you give

And the lesson that you teach them

Is, they have to kill to live

And the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

So their primer is the shakedown

From the time they shine a shoe

And it's shake down or be shaken

That's the rule they learn from you

The machine that rules the city

Has no use for them at all

Till they have a gang to offer

That's as tough as city hall

And the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

"Do you dare to sit in judgment

On this thing that you have made?

It is time you wore the handcuffs

And sat shivering afraid

It is time to pass the sentence

Where the sentence ought to be

It is time for you to answer

And I rest my case," said he

And the boy was on the bench

And the judge was in the dock

And the people on the jury

Were the people from the block

• Artist:Malvina Reynolds
• Album:Another Country Heard From (1960)