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 Ah, woah, yeah, you better shop around Aah, there's some things that I want you to know now Ah, just as sure as the wind's 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 Woah, yeah, you better shop around Ah, try to get yourself a bargain, son Don't be sold on the very first one Ah, pretty girls come a dime a dozen Ah, try to find you one who's gonna give you true loving Before you take a girl and say I do now Make sure she's in love with you now My mama told me You better shop around Ooh, hey, hey Try to get yourself a bargain, son Don't be sold on the very first one Ah, pretty girls come a dime a dozen Ah, try to find you one who's gonna give you true loving Before you take a girl and say I do now Make sure she's in love with you now Make sure that her love is true now I hate to see you feelin' sad and blue now My mama told me You better shop around Uh, huh, don't let your first one get 'cha Oh, no, cause I don't wanna see her wit' 'cha Uh, huh, before you let her hold you tight Ah, yeah, yeah, make sure she's all right Uh, huh, before you let her take your hand, my son Understand, my son Be a man, my son I know you can, my son I'd love ya, ah, shop around