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

Take your time... don’t live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
You'll find a woman and you’ll find love,
And don’t forget son,
There is someone up above.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Baby, be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?

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.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?

solo...

Boy, don’t you worry... you’ll find yourself.
Follow you heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Won’t you do this for me son,
If you can?

Well mama told me, when I was young
Said sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this, it'll help you some sunny day

Ahhh

Or take your time don't live to fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget that there's is a someone up above

[Chorus]
Be a simple kind of man
Be a something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can
(if you can)

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need now is in your soul
And you can do this(oh baby)if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

[Chorus]
And be a simple kind of man
Be a something that you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Be a something that you love and understand

Oh don't you worry
You'll find yourself
Follow your heart
And nothing else
And you can do this(oh baby)if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

[Chorus]
And be a simple kind of man
Be a something that you love and understand
So baby be a simple be a simple man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can

Baby be a simple kind of man (be simple man)
Be a something that you love and understand

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this it'll help you some sunny day

Oh, take your time don't live too fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
you'll find a woman and you'll find love
But don't forget that, that there is someone up above

And be a simple kind of man
And be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need now, is in your soul
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
And be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Boy, don't you worry you'll find yourself
Follow your heart and nothing else
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
And be something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?
Oh, won't you do this for me son if you can?

Baby be a simple kind of man
Won't you do this if you can?
And don't forget that where is it someone up above

I am just a simple man, working on the land
Oh it ain't easy
I am just a simple man, working with my hands
Oh believe me
Freedom is the only thing means a damn to me
Oh you can't fake it
Freedom is the only song, sings a song for me
Oh we're gonna make it

I am just a simple man, trying to be me
Oh it ain't easy
I am just a simple man, trying to be free
Oh believe me
Freedom is the only thing means a damn to me
Oh you can't fake it
Freedom is the only song, sings a song for me
Oh we're gonna make it

I am just a simple man, working on the land
Oh it ain't easy
I'm just a simple man, working with my hands
Oh baby, believe me
I'm just a simple man, yeah yeah
Freedom is the only thing means a damn to me
I'm just a simple man, yeah

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

Oh, take your time... Don't live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman, oh baby, you'll find love,
And don't forget son,
There is someone up above.

(Chorus)
And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Baby be a simple, kind of man.
Oh, won't you do this for me son,
If you can?

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

(Chorus)

Boy, don't you worry... you'll find yourself.
Follow your heart, lord, and nothing else.
And you can do this, oh baby, if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

(Chorus)

Keep on keepin' on believin'
You've never given me a reason to drop my faith
and I won't leave you
just for the sake of leavin'
Cause I got every reason to stay

It's a good little time to settle down my world
But you took a hold of me
And then I told you
I promise to stand for you
But you gotta tell me what's it gonna be

Yeah yeah

I'm just a simple man
A little part of a bigger plan
everything that gives me worth, God, it's you
So take the rest of me
Cause you got the best of me
Everything good in me comes from you

God all of me hides in you
Oh God my home is your hands
Within me, into the world you send me
now I gotta tell the truth to everyone that I can
Yeah yeah

I'm just a simple man
A little part of a bigger plan
everything that gives me worth, God, it's you
You you
So take the rest of me
Cause you got the best of me
Everything good in me comes from you

I'm just a simple man
A little part of a bigger plan
everything that gives me worth, God, it's you
So take the rest of me
Cause you got the best of me
Everything good in me comes from you

I'm, I'm just a simple man
I have to do the simple things that a simple man can
You are holding out your hand
You want to know the simple things in my simple plan
And I know there's so much to share
So what else can I do?

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
Come now and take my hand (come and take my hand)
Now and forever, never to be lonely

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
I do the best I can (I do the best I can)
Now we're together, just remember only
That I'm a simple man

Love is just a simple thought
A little bit the worse for wear
like a thief who got caught

Hope is just a thing you bought
It's just another safe white lie
that every body got taught

I can see you look to me
So what else can I do?

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
Come now and take my hand (come and take my hand)
Now and forever, never to be lonely

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
I do the best I can (I do the best I can)
Now we're together, just remember only
That I'm a simple man

I do the best I can
I got a simple, simple plan
I hope you understand

I'm just a simple man (yes, I'm a simple man)
I'm holding out my hand (I'm holding out my hand)
It's such a simple, simple plan (it's such a simple plan)
I think you understand (you understand)

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
Come now and take my hand (come and take my hand)
Now and forever, never to be lonely

Yes, I'm a simple man (I'm a simple man)
I do the best I can (I do the best I can)
Now we're together, just remember only
It's so simple

SIMPLE MAN

I don't want much but I say what I mean
And I need your touch
I'm just a simple man
And I know what it takes
Yes I know who I am
You took my hand
And I followed you to this faraway land
And i'll stand by you if you stand by me
Then we both will be

CHORUS:
Living in the city out in the rain
I'll wipe all your worries, i'll wipe them away
Living in the city so dirty and grey
I'll give you the shelter, i'll take you away

I don't want much, i'm a simple man
And I need your touch
And I can't forget
I just close my eyes and I see you there
If you take my hand I will take you to this foreign land
Cause I want to hold you close
Cause I need you by me, I won't let you go

(CHORUS)

I see lives crash like waves on the shore again and again
In an endless cycle of joy and pain
Inside one day your whole life can change innocence torn away
Trust gives way to a thicker pain
A shield from pain? or a trap that keeps it all in.
They tried to break me down - i had to break away
I woke up from that night mare to start another day

I wanna be a simple man with a little peace of mind
Live a simple life, in a place thats kind

I see lives crash like waves on the shore again and again.
No poetry, No symmetry, nothing left inside of me
What happened to that feeling of invincibility?
Broken up caught under the load
Broken down by the side of the road
They tried to break me down i had to break away
I woke up from that nightmare to start another day....

Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... don't live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and you'll find love,
And dont forget son,
There is someone up above.

And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Wont you do this for me son,
If you can?

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.

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

Boy, dont you worry... you'll find yourself.
Follow your heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

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

I am a simple man
so I sing a simple song
never been so much in love
and never hurt so bad at the same time.

I am a simple man
and I play a simple tune
I wish that I could see you once again
across the room like the first time.

I just want to hold you I don't want to hold you down
I hear what you're saying and you're spinning my head around and I can't make it alone.

The ending of the tale is the singing of the song
make me proud to be your man
only you can make me strong
like the last time.

I just want to hold you I don't want to hold you down
I hear what you're saying and you're spinning my head around and I can't make it alone.

Piano & Lead Vocal: Graham Nash
Celli: Dorian Rudnytsky
Fiddle: David Lindley
Background Vocals: Graham Nash & Rita Coolidge