When you become a man The world is eager to tell you so Although those days of climbing trees and ABCs Don’t seem so long ago Swing, swing up to the sky Mind the Sun don’t get in your eye Wash your hands, it’s time for bed Shoot the bad man Bang, he’s dead When you become a man You're just a boy who wants bigger toys Your toys are things like pretty girls with teeth like pearls Instead of toy cowboys Get up, daddy, play with the ball Please, may I walk on that wall? Let me jump, I know that I can But when will I become a man? But when you're a man you must fight for success It doesn’t come easy, you’ll have to confess You ask yourself why, what is it all for? Until you fall in love, then you’ll fight even more But when you become a man Those bachelor days soon hurry by They fly those days of taking hearts and breaking hearts With a very fast goodbye Come to me baby, turn down the light You’re gonna learn the meaning of sin tonight Since I’ve met you I’ve never been the same And by the way, what’s your second name? When you become a man You’ll want a son named after you So you’ve got to take a wife And build a life before your days are through Wash the kids, they’re in a mess Look at his knees, would you look at her dress? And why do they scream and fight all day through? When I was a kid, when I was a kid I was just like them too When you become a man You’ll lead the way for them to follow you You’ll try to make their dreams come true But you will want to do all that you can When you become a man