My Old Man Lyrics by Lou Reed

My Old Man

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]