When I was a young boy in Brooklyn Going to public school During recess in the concrete playground They lined us up by twos In alphabetical order, Reagan, Reed and Russo I still remember the names And stickball and stoopball Were the only games that we played And I wanted to be like my old man I wanted to grow up just like my old man I wanted to be like my old man I wanted to dress like I wanted to be just like I wanted to act like my old man I wanted to be like I wanted to act like I wanted to be just like my old man And then like everyone else I started to grow And I didn't want to be like my father anymore I was sick if his bullying And having to hide under a desk on the floor And when he beat my mother It made me so mad I could choke And I didn't want to be like my old man I didn't even want to look like my old man I didn't even want to seem like my old man A son watches his father Being cruel to his mother And makes a vow to return only when He is so much richer In every way so much bigger That the old man will never hit anyone again Like my old man Like my old man Like my old man Like my old man And can you believe what he said to me He said, "Lou, act like a man" Why don't you act just like a man Act like your daddy Act like a man Why don't you act like a man Like your old man Like my old man (Reed, Fonfara)
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