The Man Makes the Manners
Concept: Carol Cayley. Lyrics: Rob Walker. © positivespin 2002

Listen up you kids
I'm talking manners
You know
They say "Manners makes the man"
But I am the man
And I say The Man makes the Manners

Yes manners
Yo courtesy
Yeah politeness
I'll tell you about it. Listen up.

*Listen up hard
Listen you guys
I'm talking about manners
Gonna make you wise
You can make it big
You can do it well
If you've got good manners
Everyone can tell (repeat from *)

Yes manners
Yo courtesy
Yeah politeness

First up, say "please"
If you need a hand (Yes, manners)
Gonna get more help
Do you understand?

That's "please" (First up say please)
"Please can you" (If you need a hand)
"Would you mind?"(Gonna get more help)
"Is that OK?" (Do you understand? That's "please")

Then when you've done it
You need to let them know
That you appreciate the effort
Let your manners show (repeat)

Say "thank you!" (Thankyou)
"Thanks a lot!"( Thanks a lot!")
"Thanks for helping" (Thanks for helping)
"Thanks heaps!" (Thanks heaps!")

Next you need to know
What you have to say
In a crowded place-
someone's in your way.
You want to make them move
So you can go on through
Say the Magic Words
And they'll move for you

Say "excuse me") (That's "excuse me")
You heard it!
Say "Excuse me." (Excuse me)
No pushing
That's rude!
Not "Get out of my way"
That's Not Polite! (Not Polite)
It's "Excuse me!" (Excuse me)

Next you need to know
What you should really do
When your body goes and does
Something embarrassing on you
Sometimes we sneeze (Sometimes we sneeze)
Sometimes we belch air (or we belch air)
Sometimes we make smells (Sometimes we make smells)
From our underwear (In our underwear)
You know that you can't help it
You're embarrassed just the same
But there's some magic words
To help you play the game

Say "Pardon me"
That's right! "Pardon me!"
Easy does it
Say "Pardon me.."
That's right! "Pardon me!"
Easy does it

Now you've learned some manners
You can use then everyday
They will make your life easier
They will smooth the way
Now you've learnt some manners
You can say them 1 by 1
You can practice one more time
And then my song is done

Say "please" (Say please)
"Thank you" (Say thank you)

"Excuse me" (say excuse me)
Say pardon me (Say pardon me)
That's right!
That's cool!

Say please (that's right)

Thank you
(That's cool)
Say excuse me
(Say please)
Pardon me (Say thank you)
Say please (say excuse me)
Thank you (Say pardon me)
"Excuse me" Say pardon me.
Yeah! That's right! Yo. Alright.
You heard me.
Break it down!


From the album innov8 by positivespin. Permission is granted to educators to reproduce this page .
Credits:. Michael Turner: rap. Rob Walker: rap, bass. Ryan Mitchell: backing rap. Robert Jarvis: drum sequencing, recording, mixing, engineering. Simon Rose :post production
www.positivespin.com.au