Ohh...
Umm humm...

Innocent the child is born, an empty canvas
Don't do this and don't you do that is all he hears
No one listens to a word that he's sayin'
They think, talkin' with the back of their hand is the only way

Three A.M. and he's on the street
Somebody save the boy
We don't want to see another life destroyed

Spare the rod and just love the child
And if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
I said, spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild

Mama says, go straight to your room, never mind the reason
Wait until your daddy gets home, better run for your life
The prophecy is self-fulfilling you best believe it
If you tell the boy he'll never be much, he's gonna prove you right
Angry face used to be that of a little boy
Don't want to see another slip away into the void

Spare the rod and just love the child
And if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
Ohh... spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild
They're gonna grow up wild

Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Ohh...

You'd better believe it

Spare the rod and just love the child
Well, if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
Why don't you spare the rod and just love the child
Now, if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild
They're gonna grow up wild

Yeah, spare the rod and just love the child
Spare the rod and just love the child
Why don't you spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild

Spare the rod and just love the child
Well, if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
And I said, spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild

Spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
Spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild

Spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you teach 'em right they're gonna grow up proud
Spare the rod and just love the child
'Cause if you treat 'em wrong they're gonna grow up wild