When I was seventeen
I asked my daddy
What does it take to be a man
He said sit down son
Let's have a little talk
I'll try and make you understand
Then he said years won't do it, tears won't do it
And sittin down to drink a thousand beers won't do it
Tattoos won't do it, and booze won't do it
And puttin little lifts in your shoes won't do it
I'm gonna tell you the thing that can
He said you get a good woman and she'll make you a man
He said only, a good woman can
That's the only thing, that's gonna make you a man
He said a scar won't do it fast cars won't do it
And kickin someone's ass in a bar won't do it
You aint gonna do it as an army private or
A captain or lieutenant, no just won't buy it
Listen son you'd better get yourself a plan
He said you get a good woman and she'll make you a man
He said only, a good woman can
That's the only thing, that's gonna make you a man
Now I was runnin around all through my twenties
Just to prove I had the stuff
Then one day I met this brown eyed girl
She said to me boy you aint so tough
She said that walk won't do it, talk won't do it
And struttin in here like a chicken hawk won't do it
Or bein a sexist, or drivin that Lexus
Or tellin people you were born and raised in Texas
Come over here boy if you think you can
She said you get a good woman and she'll make you a man
She said only, a good woman can
That's the only thing, that's gonna make you a man
My daddy died when I was thirty one
And that brown eyed girl gave me a brown eyed son
And when he comes to me wonderin how you do it
I'll say now sit down son cause I've been through it
Drugs won't do it, and hugs won't do it
And hangin on the corner with the thugs won't do it
The preacher won't do it and the teacher won't do it
And stayin up to watch the creature feature won't do it
Boy just look at your momma and you'll understand
You get a good woman and she'll make you a man
Son only, a good woman can
That's the only thing, that's gonna make you a man
Eatin snakes won't do it, Body By Jake won't do it
And puttin a lot of birthday candles on your birthday cake won't do it
Wearin cowboy boots won't do it, Armani suits won't do it
Sittin there puffin on that Cuban cheroot won't do it
Bein rich won't do it, bein poor won't do it
Playin this song on the radioooomight do it
Actually, that might do it