If you disrespect anybody
That you run in to
Then 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, yeah

You're the kind of gentleman
That always wanted everything his way
Take the sheet off your face, boy
It's a brand new day, come on, come on

You got to respect yourself
Come on respect yourself
No, respect yourself
Oh, respect yourself

If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, no
Respect yourself, hey, hey, respect yourself
Respect yourself, respect yourself

If you walk 'round thinkin' that the world
Owes you something 'cause you're here, well
You're goin' out the world backwards
Like you did when you first come here

Keep talkin' 'bout the president
Won't stop evolution, oh no
Put your hand over your mouth
When you cough, that'll help the solution

Yeah, you cuss around women
And you don't even know their names
And you dumb enough to think
That'll make you a big ol' man, hey

Respect yourself, yeah
Respect yourself
You got to respect yourself
Hey respect yourself

If you don't respect yourself
Ain't nobody gonna give a good cahoot, no, no
Respect yourself, yeah, oh, respect yourself
You're gonna respect yourself, hey respect yourself

Respect yourself, respect yourself
Hey respect yourself
Respect yourself, respect yourself
You're gonna respect yourself
Nobody's gonna do it for you

You gotta respect yourself
You gotta respect yourself

Writer : MACK RICE, LUTHER INGRAM
Copyright : Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group