When I was a young boy in Brooklyn
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Going to public school
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During recess in the concrete playground
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They lined us up by twos
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In alphabetical order, Reagan, Reed and Russo
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I still remember the names
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And stickball and stoopball
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Were the only games that we played
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And I wanted to be like my old man
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I wanted to grow up just like my old man
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I wanted to be like my old man
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I wanted to dress like
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I wanted to be just like
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I wanted to act like my old man
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I wanted to be like
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I wanted to act like
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I wanted to be just like my old man
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And then like everyone else I started to grow
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And I didn't want to be like my father anymore
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I was sick if his bullying
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And having to hide under a desk on the floor
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And when he beat my mother
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It made me so mad I could choke
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And I didn't want to be like my old man
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I didn't even want to look like my old man
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I didn't even want to seem like my old man
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A son watches his father
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Being cruel to his mother
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And makes a vow to return only when
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He is so much richer
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In every way so much bigger
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That the old man will never hit anyone again
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Like my old man [x4]
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And can you believe what he said to me
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He said, "Lou, act like a man"
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Why don't you act just like a man
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Act like your daddy
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Act like a man
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Why don't you act like a man
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Like your old man
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Like my old man
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-----------------
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My Old Man
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| Lou Reed |