Respect Yourself

If you disrespect anybody

That you run in to

How in the world do you think

Anybody's s'posed to respect you

If you don't give a heck 'bout the man

With the Bible in his hand

Just get out the way

And let the gentleman do his thing

You the kind of gentleman

That want everything your way

Take the sheet off your face, boy

It's a brand new day

Respect yourself, respect yourself

If you don't respect yourself

Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na

Respect yourself, respect yourself

If you're walking 'round

Think'n that the world

Owes you something

'Cause you're here

You goin' out

The world backwards

Like you did

When you first come here

Keep talkin' 'bout the president

Won't stop air pollution

Put your hand on your mouth

When you cough, that'll help the solution

Oh, you cuss around women folk

And you don't even know their names

And you dumb enough to think

That'll make you a big ol man

Respect yourself, respect yourself

If you don't respect yourself

Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, na na na na

Respect yourself, respect yourself

Respect yourself, respect yourself

• Artist:The Staple Singers
• Album:Be Altitude: Respect Yourself (1972)