Wes was just a boy back then
His dad was rough
And his mom drank gin
He fled his home so he could stray
To start the life for which he prayed

As he got older, he made good grades
He played ball for Kansas State
Look what they've done

But he grew tired of running dry
And he got shut down for getting high

Oh, dear God
Look what they've done
They locked him up
Like he had a gun

And so it went Wes shipped away
Like a beast into a cage
He likes to run, no hope to fly
They squashed him down if he would try

He called a friend, he hoped he could
Still hear her voice from where he stood
The phone cut off by a machine
That sounded strange and words so mean

Oh, dear God
Look what they've done
They locked him up
Like he had a gun

Look, for a laugh
We're just having fun
One boy lost
When he should've run
Took the fall for nothing at all
A crime so small, a price overdone

Oh, dear God
Look what they've done
They locked him up
Like he had a gun

Wes was just a boy back then
His dad was rough
And his mom drank gin
He fled his home so he could stray
To start the life for which he prays

Oh, dear God
Look what they've done
They locked him up
Like he had a gun

Look, for a laugh
We're just having fun
One boy lost
When he should've run
Took the fall for nothing at all
A crime so small, a price overdone

Oh, dear God
Look what they've done
They locked him up
Like he had a gun