Mama Used To Say

And mama used to say, Take your time, young man...
Mama used to say, Don't you rush to get old...
Mama used to say, Take it in your stride...
Mama used to say, Live your life...

"Mama Used To Say," by Junior

Whenever I hear the song “Mama Used To Say” by Junior, it reminds me of all the things my mama used to say:

Don’t you rush to get old. You’re only a child once. Then you have to grow up and get a job.

I brought you in the world, and I can take you out.

Fast money is no money at all.

You can't ride with me unless you comb your hair.

Do for self. Don’t depend on nobody.

Who promised you fair? Whoever told you life was fair, they lied to you.

I don’t have to do nothing but die and stay black.

You need to stay out of grown folks’ business.

Get your education so you don’t have to depend on no man.

I’m not your friend; I’m your mama. You can have lots of friends, but you only get one mama. (So true!)

What goes around, comes around.

If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say nothing at all.

God don’t like ugly.

God looks after fools and babies.

Don’t make me stop this car.

You’re getting on my one good nerve.

You have to work twice as hard to be considered half as good. (Well, this is what black parents said when I was a child.)

The world don’t owe you a damn thing.

We all fall down, and you can lay down for a little while, but then you’ve got to get up.

There’s no excuse for being funky. A bar of soap only costs (fill in the blank).

You can never have too much toilet paper.

Do it right the first time and you won't have to do it again.

You can always come home. As long as I have a home, you have a home.

You can do anything you set your mind to.

And the most important thing:

Ain’t nobody going to love you like I do.

Happy Mother’s Day, y’all!