Once I saw some boys br Outside a gate br They had come to school br But they were very late br Everywhere was closed br All about br It caused me to wonder br Who locked the boys out? br br br I saw a group br On the outside br It was graduation day br But they had come to play br The girls were inside ready to go br But for the boys it was not so br They were outside walking all about br I asked who locked the boys out? br br br I observed some boys br Wasting their lives away br For them br Life was only about play br In school they refused to learn br Diminishing their ability to earn br Their decisions caused them to loose their clout br Tell me, tell me who looked the boys out? br br I noticed a gang br At the corner of a street br They had gathered together br There to meet br Only profanity br Came out of their mouth br I asked the question br Who locked the boys out? br br br I found some lads br In a prison cell br Who confided in me br That they were living in 'hell' br They longed to be flourishing and free br Instead they were chained in misery br Staked out in a desert's deadly drought br Will somebody please tell me who locked the boys out? br br br Too many boys all around the world br Are on the outside looking in br Reaping the harvest br Of their fathers sin br Some are tying to get in br But their chances seem so slim br So I ask with a serious, solemn shout br Who locked the boys out?br br howard simonbr br