Mama, where's your pretty little girl tonight
 Trying to run before she can walk - that's right
 She's growing up
 She has a young man waiting
 She's growing up
 She has a young man waiting
 Wide eyes
 She'll be street-wise
 To the lies
 And the jive talk
 She'll find true love
 And tenderness on the block
 
 Daddy, don't you ask her when she's coming in
 And when she's home don't ask her where she's been
 She's going out
 She has a young man waiting
 She's going out
 Can't keep her young man waiting
 She'll be okay
 Let her have her day
 It's a long way
 It's a long walk
 She'll find true love
 And tenderness on the block
 
 I know how much it hurts to see her go
 She has a mind of her own, you know
 She's all grown up
 She has a young man waiting
 She's all grown up
 She has a young man waiting
 She was wide-eyed
 Now she's street-wise
 To the lies
 And the jive talk
 She'll find true love
 And tenderness on the block
 She'll find true love
 And tenderness on the block