Ab       Eb          Fm
Mama told me, when I was young 
         Ab         Eb        Fm
Come sit beside me, my only son
           Ab       Eb         Fm
And listen closely, to what I say.
            Ab
And if you do this
         Eb           Fm 
It will help you some sunny day.

Interlude: Ab  Eb Fm
 
            Ab    Eb               Fm 
Take your time... Don't live too fast,
                Ab   Eb               Fm
Troubles will come,  and they will pass.
          Ab     Eb                Fm   
Go find a woman, and you'll find love, 
               Ab
And don't forget that,
          Eb          Fm  
There is someone up above.

Chorus:
          Ab     Eb         Fm
And be a simple  kind of man.
       Ab     Eb             Fm
Be something  you love and understand. 
      Ab     Eb         Fm
Be a simple  kind of man.
           Ab       Eb    
Won't you do this for me son,
        Fm 
If you can?

Verse -same three chords-:
Forget your lust for the rich man's gold 
All that you need is in your soul, 
And you can do this if you try. 
All that I want for you my son, 
Is to be satisfied.

Chorus:
          Ab     Eb         Fm
And be a simple  kind of man.
       Ab     Eb             Fm
Be something  you love and understand. 
      Ab     Eb         Fm
Be a simple  kind of man.
           Ab       Eb    
Won't you do this for me son,
        Fm 
If you can?

Verse -same three chords-:
Boy, don't you worry... you'll find yourself. 
Follow you heart and nothing else. 
And you can do this if you try. 
All I want for you my son, 
Is to be satisfied.

Chorus:
          Ab     Eb         Fm
And be a simple  kind of man.
       Ab     Eb             Fm
Be something  you love and understand. 
      Ab     Eb         Fm
Be a simple  kind of man.
           Ab       Eb    
Won't you do this for me son,
        Fm 
If you can?