Submitted by MPAdmin on Sun, 02/18/2018 - 23:13
Song Rating
No votes yet
Artist
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles
Lyrics

Spoken:

When I became of age my mother called me to her side
She said, 'Son, you're growing up now, pretty soon you'll
take a bride"".

Sings:

And then she said -
'Just because you've become a young man now
(Man, now)
There's still some things that you don't understand now
(Son, now)
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
(My son)
'Keep your freedom for as long as you can now'

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
(Shop, shop around) a whoa-yeah
You better (uh-huh) shop around
(Shop-shop around)

Uh-uh-uh

There's some things that I want you to know now'
(Uh-huh-ooo)
'A just as sure as the winds gonna blow now'
(Uh-huh-ooo)
'The women come and the women gonna go now'
(Uh-huh-ooo)
Before you tell 'em that you love 'em so now

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
(Shop, shop around) whoa-yeah
You better (uh-huh) shop around
(Shop, shop around)

'A gotta get yourself a bargain son'
'Don't be sold on the very first one'
'Pretty girls come a dime a dozen'
'A-try to find one who's gonna give ya true lovin'
(Uh-huh-ooo)

'Before you take a girl and say 'I do, now'
(Uh-huh)
'A make sure she's in love a with you now'
My mama told me, ('you better shop around)

Instrumental

Oh-hey-hey-hey

(ooooh)
'Try to get yourself a bargain son'
'Don't be sold on the very first one'
(First one, first one)
A pretty girls come a dime a dozen
A try to find one who's gonna give ya true lovin'
(Uh-huh-ooo)

'Before you take a girl and say, 'I do' now' (uh-huh)
'Make sure she's in love with-a you now' (uh-huh)
'Make sure that her love is true now' (uh-huh)
'I'd hate to see you feelin' sad and blue now'

My mama told me, 'You better shop around'
(Shop, shop around)

Uh-huh don't let the first one get you'
(Shop, shop around)
Oh no, cuz I don't wanna see her 'wich-you
(Uh-huh, 'before you let 'em hold you tight'
A yeah-yeah 'make sure she's alright'

Uh-huh, 'before you let 'em take your hand my son'
'Understand my son'
'Be a man my son'
'I know you can my son'
FADES-
I love it...a shop around

RS500_rank
495
Length
2:44
BPM
135.5
Released Year
1983
Genre Era
Genre
Key
G m
Produced By
Gordy
Released Info
Dec. '60 on Tamla
Chart Weeks
16 weeks
Chart Top
No. 2
Musicbrainz ID
06804706-93ab-52a9-9f6d-a2c178f32c1c
Song Note

Robinson initially thought Barrett Strong should do "Shop Around," but Gordy convinced Robinson that he was the right man for the song. After they recorded and released it, Gordy heard it on the radio and found it way too slow. So he woke Robinson at 3 a.m. and called him back to the studio to re-cut it, faster and with Robinson more prominent. That one worked.

Song Note Source
Rolling Stone 500
Song of Day Date
Written By
Berry Gordy, Robinson
Album
The Ultimate Collection (Motown)
Song Status