I got a story to tell you about a
Little girl I loved when I wanted to
Once I stayed away too long
And when I showed up again
This is what she put me through

She wouldn't answer her telephone
I'd ring her bell
And she'd say she wasn't home
I asked her, babe
What do I have to do
To get some loving from you

And she said
You've got to crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine
That's what she told me, people
You've got to crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine

But, oh, my pride was much too strong
And I couldn't get down on my knees
And say I was wrong

But I needed her love
I couldn't stay off the street
I'd knock on her door
And she'd only repeat

You've got to crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine
That's what she said
She said, crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine

Oh, I tried everything to keep my pride
But, people, I got weaker
As the days went by
I needed her love much more than I knew
So I begged for forgiveness
And asked her what I had to

She said, break down
You've got too much pride for one man
So I swallowed my pride
Yes, I did, yes, I did

And I broke down on my left knee
And I kind of looked around
To see if anybody was looking
And I broke down on my right knee
And you know what I did

I crawled, yes, I did
Back into my baby's arms
Ooh, I crawled like a baby
Back into my baby's arms

One day your baby might say
You've got to crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine
Cause my baby told me

You've got to crawl before you walk
Back into these arms of mine
That's what she said, people
Crawl before you walk