Spoken:
You know, there was a time when, if someone told you to do something, you did
it. Bam! Right on! No questions asked. It was, "Yes, sir" and "Yes, ma'am." You
never said, "No." You know? Hah. But, you know, things are changing nowadays.
It's a new day, babies. Folks want to take their own lives into their hands and
make their own choices. No longer do they wanna go along with the program
'cause everybody say it's right. You know what I mean? Let me tell ya what I'm
talkin' about, ya see, 'cause.

Sung:
I don't want no gold watch for workin'
Fifty years from nine till five.
a-while the boss is guzzling champagne,
And I'm beltin' beer in some dive.

'Cause I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and loving for me.
I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and lovin' for me.
Like a natural man (like a natural man).
A natural man (like a natural man).

Well, now, I refuse to listen to people's
Thinkin' that I live too high.
I'm gonna taste it now,
Before my one life streaks on by.

'Cause I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and lovin' for me.
I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and lovin' for me.
Just like a natural man (like a natural man).
I said, a natural man (just like a natural man).

Well, now, I tried to do,
What others said that I should do.
They said I that I should,
Fit in, fool 'em, fake it.
Well, those kinda do's,
Just make me crazy and blue.
Man, I just can't take it.

So when you see me walkin',
Won't you notice that proud look in my eyes.
Find more similar lyrics on http://mp3lyrics.com/CN35My feet are on the ground,
And my soul is searchin' for the sky.

'Cause I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and loving for me.
I want to be happy and free,
Livin' and lovin' for me.
Just like a natural man (just like a natural man).
A natural man (just like a natural man).
Just like a natural man (just like a natural man).

My feet are on the ground (just like a natural man).
My soul is searchin' for the sky (just like a natural man).
Like a natural man (just like a natural man).
No more, "Yes, sir" (just like a natural man).
Fade.
No more, "Yes, ma'am" (just like a natural man).
Hah! 'Cause I'm a natural man (just like a natural man).
I'm a natural...

A NATURAL MAN
Written by: Sandy Baron & Bobby Hebb1
Performed by: Lou Rawls21971
Appears on: Natural Man-1971, Classics-1984, Live at the Century Plaza-1973,
Greatest Hits-1990, '70s Smash Hits, Vol. 5-1993*3, Natural Man: Classic
Lou-2001, Voices of Soul-2006*, The Essential Lou Rawls, et al. (*Compilation
of various artists.)

1There are some discrpencies between citing authorities as to who wrote this
song. A very reputable citation1a says the composers are Sandy Baron & Bobby
Hebb, however, Ed Hogan, of American Music Guide (AMG), cites Gerry Goffin,
Carole King & Jerry Wexler, as composers in his song review that proceeds the
list of albums on which this song appears. The problem is, AMG also cites Baron
& Hebb as the composers, on the SAME PAGE, and on various other of their search
result pages. I'm going with Baron & Hebb.

1aCited from, "Who Wrote That Song? Second Edition," written by Harriet
Jacobs & Dick Jacobs, published by Writer's Digest Press, Cincinatti, Ohio, in
1994.

2Covered by: Mike Curb Congregation, Ron Sunshine & The Dirtbombs.

3Transcribed from the track on this album.