My Mama told me to be clean and behave
I always listened or she′d slap me in the face
I never swore, I never said no dirty words
Didn't play with boys, ′cause Mama said I'd get hurt
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
I'd walk to school and skip the cracks in the cement
I used to watch the boys through the holes in the fence
I kept my distance, didn′t want to break the rules
I knew what Mama would say, but it seemed so cruel
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
When I was a young girl
Remember
Remember
Hey, Mama, can I go out tonight?
Please, Mama, there′s a party tonight
Oh, Daddy, won't you say it′s alright?
Please, Daddy, won't you say it′s alright?
Oh, Mama, I'll behave myself
Papa said, "Be home by quarter to twelve"
Oh, Daddy, won′t you say it's alright?
Go tell Mama it'll be alright for me
Please, Daddy, tell Mama it′ll be alright, please
When I got older all my friends began to change
Since I learned to kiss the boys, things have never been the same
I make my own choice now, I go my own way
Don′t have to worry no more about what Mama might say
But when I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
When I was a young girl
Oh, oh-oh, oh
When I was a young girl
Yeah, a young girl
When I was a young girl, ah-ah, oh
