[Intro: Johnny Gill]
These are the things that change boys to men

[Verse 1: Johnny Gill]
Growing up can be a pain
You're not a man until you come of age
We've given up our teenage years
In the effort to pursue our career
Who assumes responsibility
Of having to support our families?
Who's protecting us from harm?
Is there anyone around, that we can trust?

[Pre-Chorus 1: New Edition & (Johnny Gill)]
So we search for answers to our questions
(Looking for the answers)
No answers but we are taught a lesson every time (Every time)
Through mistakes wе've learned to gathеr wisdom (Oh, oh, oh)
(Life's responsibilities falls in our hands)

[Chorus: New Edition & (Johnny Gill)]
Keep on learning, keep on growing
(Wisdom helps us understand)
We're maturing, without knowing
(These are the things that change boys to men)
[Verse 2: Johnny Gill]
Oh, the goals we set may exceed reality
'Cause failure always is a possibility
Who can tell us that we're wrong?
It's up to us to figure out, what life is all about

[Pre-Chorus 2: New Edition & (Johnny Gill)]
So we search for answers to questions
(Looking for the answers)
No answers but we are taught a lesson every time (Every time)
Through mistakes we've learned to gather wisdom
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
(And wisdom helps us see our responsibility)

[Chorus: New Edition & (Johnny Gill)]
Keep on learning, keep on growing
(Oh yeah, wisdom helps us understand)
We're maturing, without knowing
(Yeah, these are the things that change boys to men)

[Outro: New Edition & Johnny Gill]
Keep on learning, keep on growing
I know it gets hard sometimes, yeah
Growing up can be a pain
We're maturing, without knowing
You're not a man, not a man
All you have to do, all you have to do is hold on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
So we search for answers to questions
No-no-no-no-no-no-no
No answers but we are taught a lesson every time
Yeah, yeah, keep on growing
Through mistakes, we've learned to gather wisdom
Who's gonna protect us from our heart? Yeah
You see life's responsibility, falls in our hand, falls in our hand
Keep on learning, keep on growing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, no-no, no, no, no, no, no, no
We're maturing, without knowing
See, growing up, can be a pain, can be a pain...
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah