Manhood Songtext
von Harry Chapin

I was laughin′ horizontally in my loose and lusty youth
I was feelin' well self-satisfied, deliciously uncouth
When she slipped out from my covers with a smile
Sayin′, "You've got a lot to learn, dear boy, it's gonna take a while"

She said, "Manhood means that you should
Get someone else beside yourself, feelin′ good
You know a real man would do much more than you could
You know he′d wonder if he understood me"


I said, "I see, let's start again"
She said, "You know you never can"
She put her clothes back on, she straightened up my bed
She hit me with a line that still does numbers on my head
She said, "Your mind chooses better than your hands do
Your heart chooses better than your glands do"

She said, "Manhood means that you should
Get someone else beside yourself, feelin′ good
You know a real man would do much more than you could
You know he'd wonder if he understood me"

So I stood there in my shorts, feelin′ naked just the same
With her last few words, I knew I was brand new at this game
She gave her gentle smile, she slipped out through the door
Sayin', "You′re my first and only love"
, Just like all her loves before

She said, "Manhood means that you should
Get someone else beside yourself, feelin' good
You know a real man would do much more than you could
You know he'd wonder if he understood me"


I said, "I see, let′s start again"