Lou Reed My Old Man song lyrics

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 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 (just like my old man)

like my old man

Like my old man (just like my old man)

like my old man

and can you believe what he said to me

he said, "Lou, act like a man" (walk like a man)

Why don't you act just like a man

act like your daddy, act like a man (just like my old man)

Oh, why don't you act just like a man

like your old man (walk like a man)

(Just like my old man)

(Just like my old man)