Motown

Mama had good advice and told him.

If you’re going to find the right girl, the “one who’s gonna give you true loving,” then “you better shop around.” Good advice. The song was written by Smokey  Robinson and record producer/songwriter Berry Gordy. In 1960, it went to #1 on the R&B Chart, #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, and #1 on the Cash Box Top 100 Chart. Group members for the recording included Robinson, Claudette Rogers Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, and Pete Moore with Marv Tarplin on guitar. “Shop Around” was the first million-selling record for The Miracles and for the Motown Record Corporation. It is on Rolling Stone’s list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” and is honored by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as one of the “500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.” The B-Side was “Who’s Lovin’ You,” which was written by Smokey Robinson and also charted.

Here are the lyrics to “Shop Around” by The Miracles featuring Smokey Robinson:

When I became of age my mother called me to her side,
She said, “Son, you’re growing up now pretty soon you’ll take a bride.’
And then she said, “Just because you’ve become a young man now,
There’s still some things that you don’t understand now,
Before you ask some girl for her hand now
Keep your freedom for as long as you can now.”

My mama told me, “You better shop around, (shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around.” (shop, shop around)

Ah, there’s some things that I want you to know now.
Just as sure as the winds gonna blow now
The women come and the women gonna go now
Before you tell em that you love em so now.

My mama told me, “You better shop around, (shop, shop)
Oh yeah, you better shop around.” (shop, shop around)

A-try to get yourself a bargain son.
Don’t be sold on the very first one.
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who’s gonna give you true lovin’

Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she’s in love with-a you now.
My mama told me, “You better shop around.”

Ooh yeah, a-try to get yourself a bargain son.
Don’t be sold on the very first one.
A-pretty girls come a dime a dozen,
A-try to find one who’s gonna give you true lovin’.

Before you take a girl and say I do, now,
Make sure she’s in love with-a you now.
Make sure that her love is true now.
I hate to see you feelin’ sad and blue now.”

My mama told me, “You better shop around (shop, shop)
Don’t let the first one get you
Oh no cause I don’t want to see her with you
Before you let her hold you tight, ah yeah make sure she’s alright
Before you let her take your hand my son
Understand my son, be a man my son I know you can I love you

For other songs by The Miracles and Smokey Robinson: “Tracks of My Tears,” “I Second that Emotion,” and “You Really Got a Hold on Me.”

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Shop Around” by The Miracles.