When I became of age my mother called me to her side
She said, 'Son you're growing up now, pretty soon you'll take a bride'

And then she said
'Just because you've become a young man now
There's still some things that you don't understand now
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now'

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
A whoa yeah you better shop around

There's some things that I want you to know now
A just as sure as the winds gonna blow now
The women come and the women gonna go now
Before you tell 'em that you love 'em so now

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
Whoa yeah you better shop around

I gotta get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
Pretty girls come a dime a dozen
I'll to find one who's gonna give ya true lovin'

Before you take a girl and say, 'I do now'
A make sure she's in love a with you now
My mama told me, 'You better shop around'

You try to get yourself a bargain son
Don't be sold on the very first one
A pretty girls come a dime a dozen
I'll try to find one who's gonna give ya true lovin'

Before you take a girl and say, 'I do now'
Make sure she's in love with-a you now
Make sure that her love is true now
I'd hate to see you feelin' sad and blue now

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
Uh huh don't let the first one get you
Oh no, 'cuz I don't wanna see her with you
Uh huh, before you let 'em hold you tight
A yeah yeah 'make sure she's alright'

Uh huh, before you let 'em take your hand my son
Understand my son, be a man my son, I know you can my son