| Mama used to take me across her lap
|
| She used to whip me with a strap
|
| When I was bad
|
| I didn’t know at the time
|
| Being bad could lead to crime
|
| But now I’m glad
|
| Well, she kept me on the double
|
| I stayed out of trouble
|
| Now I understand
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect
|
| To the other man»
|
| When I used to make fun of others
|
| She’d say, «No not to your brothers»
|
| And that ain’t all (that ain’t all)
|
| «When someone is feeling low
|
| Think of the nicest things you know
|
| To make them feel tall»
|
| I’ll never forget what Mama said
|
| When she kneeled down and prayed
|
| For my father’s guiding hand
|
| «Throw your arms around his neck
|
| Make him proud to give respect
|
| To the other man»
|
| Whoa, now that I’m a man (now that I’m a man)
|
| God has taken my mother’s hand (God has taken my mother’s hand)
|
| And now I’ll carry on
|
| Oh, sometimes I’ll have to weep
|
| Mother’s love I’ll always keep
|
| 'Cause she made me strong
|
| And if I should ever have a son (if I should ever have a son)
|
| We’re gonna have lots of fun (we're gonna have lots of fun)
|
| And I’ll teach him up to understand
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect
|
| To the other man»
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck (you gotta give respect)
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect» (and I know, I know, I know what my mother
|
| would tell me)
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck (you gotta give respect)
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect»
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck (you gotta give respect now)
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect» (and I know, I know, I know what my mother
|
| would tell me)
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck (you gotta give respect)
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect»
|
| She said, «Son, you gotta give a heck
|
| Promise you’ll always give respect
|
| To the other man» |