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Your Mother Should Have Told You
Robert Palmer Lyrics


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Your looks are sensational
Where do I begin?
You're so unbelievable
It must be a sin

I try to keep pace with you
But I never win
You're on the attack again
I'll have to give in

You look fully grown
I thought you'd have known

Your mother should have told you
Girls turn into women
Your mother should have warned you
You fall in love and then

Your mother should have told you
You're sinking or you're swimming
Your mother should have warned you
Boys turn into men

Her manners are counterfeit
But she knows how to act
And when you get used to it
It's better than fact

You never can tell
The real from pretend
You liked the beginning
Well, wait till the end

You look fully formed
You should have been warned

Your mother should have told you
Girls turn into women
Your mother should have warned you
You fall in love and then

Your mother should have told you
You're sinking or you're swimming
Your mother should have warned you
Boys turn into men

You look fully grown
I thought you'd have known

Your mother should have told you
Girls turn into women
Your mother should have warned you
Boys turn into men

Your looks are sensational
Where do I begin?
You're so unbelievable
It must be a sin

I thought you'd have known
You look fully grown
Well, attend to your own

Your mother should have told you
Girls turn into women
Your mother should have warned you
You fall in love and then

Your mother should have told you
You're sinking or you're swimming
Your mother should have warned you
Boys turn into men

Your mother should have told you
Girls turn into women
Your mother should have told you
You fall in love and then

Your mother should have told you
You're sinking or you're swimming
Your mother should have told you
Boys turn into men

Overall Meaning

The song "Your Mother Should Have Told You" by Robert Palmer is a warning to a girl who is growing into a woman about the dangers and complexities of falling in love with men who are turning into men. The lyrics suggest that the singer is attracted to a girl who is physically stunning and alluring but is oblivious to the reality of the world around her. The song's narrative is that of a man attempting to warn the girl of the pitfalls of love and relationships, which she should have been informed of by her mother.


Robert Palmer hints that women mature faster than men and, therefore, are more aware of the world around them. The singer also suggests that the girl is naive and lacks worldly knowledge, which will put her at a disadvantage when it comes to love and relationships. The line "You're sinking or you're swimming" suggests that it is a scary world out there, and falling in love can be both good and bad. The song's chorus echoes the sentiment that a mother should have educated her daughter on what is to be expected when it comes to love and relationships.


In conclusion, Robert Palmer's "Your Mother Should Have Told You" is about the hazards of love and relationships, and the importance of maternal guidance in dealing with these hazards. The song suggests that women are more informed and mature than men and that the girl in the song should have had a better understanding of the world she was entering.


Line by Line Meaning

Your looks are sensational
You are visually impressive.


Where do I begin?
I'm not sure how to start complimenting you.


You’re so unbelievable
You are hard to believe, almost too good to be true.


It must be a sin
Your beauty is sinful and too tempting to resist.


I try to keep pace with you
I attempt to match your energy and enthusiasm.


But I never win
I am unable to keep up with you.


You’re on the attack again
You are being forceful or assertive in your actions or words.


I’ll have to give in
I will have to submit to your will or desires.


You look fully grown
You appear to be an adult or mature.


I thought you’d have known
I assumed you were aware of something.


Your mother should have told you
Your mom should have informed you of something.


Girls turn into women
Young females develop into adult women.


You fall in love and then
You develop feelings of affection for someone.


You’re sinking or you’re swimming
You are either succeeding or failing in a situation.


Boys turn into men
Young males become adult men.


Her manners are counterfeit
Her behavior is insincere or fake.


But she knows how to act
She knows how to present herself in a favorable light.


And when you get used to it
Once you become accustomed to her fake behavior.


It’s better than fact
It is more preferable than reality.


You never can tell
You can never know for certain.


The real from pretend
What is genuine from what is fake.


You liked the beginning
You enjoyed the initial stages of something.


Well, wait till the end
Just wait until the conclusion, things may change.


You should have been warned
Someone should have given you a heads up.


Well, attend to your own
Focus on your own affairs or business.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUY PRATT, GUY ADAM PRATT, ROBERT ALLAN PALMER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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