Mama told me when I was young
"Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you some sunny day"

"Oh, take your time, don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget, son, there is someone up above"

"And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

"Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied"

"And be a simple kind of man
Be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, be a simple man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

Oh, yes, I will
Oh, I will be ...

"Boy, don't you worry, you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want for you, my son, is to be satisfied"

One more man

"Be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, be a simple man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

... to me

"Baby, be a simple kind of man
Oh, be a simple kind of man
Oh, be something you love and understand
Baby, be a simple, oh, be a simple man
Oh, won't you do this for me, son, if you can"

Oh, yeah
Oh, mama, I will be a simple man
Don't you know?
Don't you know?
Oh, I'm doing the best I can