Spare the Rod (Love the Child) Lyrics

Spare the rod, spoil the child
Spare the rod, spoil the child
Spare the rod, spoil the child
Spare the rod, love the child
Love the child, spare not the rod

Well, I′ve, when I was growing up
You have to have some discipline
I was taught to believe in saying
Spare the rod and you spoil the child
Because you don't want him to do wrong
My daddy never spared the rod
You want him to do the right thing
He still loved the child

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 saying
They think talking with the back of their hand is the only way
Three a.m. and he′s on the streets, somebody save the boy
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
Oh, 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
And that ain't right

Yeah, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, you better believe it

Spare the rod and just love the child
And 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, 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
And 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
And 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
And 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