I remember
I remember
I remember
I remember

Now I remember, my first love (I remember)
Of course the whole thing went wrong (I remember)
And my mama had some great advice (I remember)
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
'Cause I can still hear her sayin' (I remember)

She said: Boy (boy, boy)
Oh, I see you sitting out there all alone
Yeah, just cryin' your eyes out into the cold gray dawn
Now, there's gonna be
There's gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life (whole lot of trouble)
So listen to me, get up off of your knees
'Cause only the strong survive
That's what she said

Only the strong survive, only the strong survive
Yeah, you've got to be strong (strong)
You've got to hold on (hold on)
Only the strong survive (don't go)

Oh, don't go around with your head hanging down
I wouldn't let that girl know
She made you feel like a clown
Now, there's a whole lot of girls (whole lot of girls)
Just lookin' for a good man like you
But you ain't ever gonna meet 'em
If you give up now and say your whole life is through

'Cause only the strong survive, only the strong survive
Oh, you've got to be a man (man)
You've got to take a stand (oh, yeah)
'Cause only the strong survive

I'm telling you right now
Only the strong survive
(Strong survive)

Only the strong survive, only the strong survive
Yeah, you've got to hold on (hold on)
You've got to be strong (strong)
'Cause only the strong survive
(Only the strong survive) and there's always gonna be a better day
You're gonna make it (yeah)
But you've got to take that stand (stand)
'Cause only the strong survive, only the strong survive
Yeah, you've got to be strong
You've got to hold on
'Cause only the strong