When I was a young boy in brooklyn   Going to public school   During recess in the concrete playground   They lined us up by twos   In alphabetical order, reagan, reed and russo   I still remember the names   And stickball and stoopball were the only games   That we played      And I wanted to be like my old man   I, I wanted to grow up just like my old man   I wanted to be like my old man      I wanted to dress like, I wanted to be just like   I wanted to act like my old man   I wanted to be like, I wanted to act like   I wanted to be just like my old man      And then like everyone else I started to grow   And I didn't want to be like my father anymore   I was sick of his bullying   And having to hide under a desk on the floor   And when he beat my mother   It made me so mad I could choke      And I didn't want to be like my old man   I, I didn't even want to look like my old man   I didn't even want to seem like my old man      A son watches his father, being cruel to his mother   And makes a vow to return only when   He is so much richer, in every way so much bigger that -   - the old man will never hit anyone again      Like my old man (just like my old man)   Like my old man   Like my old man (just like my old man)   Like my old man   And can you believe what he said to me   He said, "lou, act like a man" (walk like a man)   Why don't you act just like a man   Act like your daddy, act like a man (just like my old man)   Oh, why don't you act just like a man   Like your old man (walk like a man)   (just like my old man)   (just like my old man)