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, 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 of his bullying And having to hide under a desk on the floor And when he beat my mother It made me so mad that I could choke
And I didn't want to be like my old man I, 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, just act like a man Why don't you act just like a man? Act like your daddy, act like a man"
Oh, why don't you act just like a man? Like your old man
Just like my old man Just like my old man Just like my old man