my mother told me just to look was the same as just to roam i ve been reading my good book my eyes have bade destruction oh lord i needed a woman just to make me right ooh so many people try to figure it out so many folks gettin run around oh now wait a minute i got a story for you there was a time when love meant nothing i was set in my own ways i kept on moving from woman to woman no one could know my fate oh lord i needed a woman just to make me right ooh so many people try to figure it out so many folks gettin run around oh now wait a minute i got a story for you there was no pill i didn t take no law i didn t break give me your name and i ll get your number no rock that i hid under my mother told me son only foolish are drawn ooh so many people try to figure it out so many folks gettin run around oh now wait a minute i see the light of day oh mother please don t hate me oh the life of liberty put scars right through my feet she said what s wrong i said i am fine she said i pray for you every day every night 