Mama Used To Say

[Intro]
Said a small boy once asked
"When will I grow up?
When will I see what grown-ups do see?"
In his fight to come of age
He would have to know the age
To be recognized as one and not a mass

[Chorus]
Mama used to say, take your time young man
Mama used to say, don’t you rush to get old
Mama used to say, take it in your stride
Mama used to say, live your life (life, life)

[Verse 1]
It’s 1971 time for joy
A child is born and it’s boy
Alive on arrival, here I go
Mama, what's my name? Said Lazaro
One years old and I learned to talk
But they said I’ll never learn to walk
I proved them wrong and my mama knеw it
‘Cause ain’t none to it but to do it
Now mama says therе’ll be days like this
Had my first [?] when I was six
A few years later I got my first kiss
I wanted to DJ and I got my wish
As I reminisce on back in a day
All I could think about was gettin’ paid
‘Cause when I was young I had money on my mind
But mama said, son take your time

[Chorus]
Mama used to say, take your time young man
Mama used to say, don’t you rush to get old
Mama used to say, take it in your stride
Mama used to say, live your life (life, life)

[Verse 2]
I’m livin' my life, comin’ of age
Mama tryna keep me on the right page
Tryna keep me from hangin’ with thugs
And she always told me don’t do no drugs
Schoolin’ me throughout puberty
Never usin’ me, nobody foolin’ me
And even when I started trippin’
Mama still gave me [?] ass whippin’
Skippin’ school with the other kids
Never let my mama know what I did
‘Cause I couldn’t wait to grow up
And I couldn’t wait for twenty one to show up
Yeah, I had my [?] drama
But every time I [?] yo, there’s my mama
Prayin’ to god and his hearin’ you
‘Cause I can walk, it’s a miracle

[Chorus]
Mama used to say, take your time young man
Mama used to say, don’t you rush to get old
Mama used to say, take it in your stride
Mama used to say, live your life (life, life)

[Verse 3]
Time goes on as I growin’ a man
[?] doin’ my thing, ‘cause my life is damn good
Shout out to my daddy
‘Cause he’s been there for me since he had me
Showin’ me love, givin’ me what I need and
Slowin’ me down whenever I’m speedin’
Let me live my life
And now I’m married, two kids and a wife
Yeah, I done came up
And people champ’ when they bring my name up
‘Cause I’m makin’ hit records to dance to
Thanks for givin’ me a chance to
Do what I gotta do, I knew what I shoulda knew
And I owe it all to you
My father and my mother, I love ya
‘Cause there is no other

[Chorus]
Mama used to say, take your time young man
Mama used to say, don’t you rush to get old
Mama used to say, take it in your stride
Mama used to say, live your life (life, life)