Van Dyke Parks - Be Careful Lyrics

At the age of nine my father said to me
Son you're growing fine I'm very proud to see
Soon a man you'll be with all the zest for life
But your greatest test will be to choose a wife

Be careful son be careful
All that glitters isn't gold
Be careful son be careful
Movin' round toward the young and the old
You must watch them twice
That is my advice
You'll find they're nice from far but far from nice

Marriage is not a sport, it is no game to play
Once they have you caught, it's hard to get away
Behind every great man there's a woman, that's true
But she has a hand in every downfall too
Every lady is a woman though nature's act
But every woman is not a lady and that is a fact
To comprehend the difference it will take a lot
For they both pretend to be what they are not