I remember my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mamma had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her sayin' it

Boy oh I see you're sittin' out there alone
Cryin' your eyes out cause the woman that you love has gone
Oh there's gonna be there's gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life
Oh so listen to me get up off your knees cause only the strong survive

Only the strong survive only the strong survive
Yeah you've gotta be strong better hold on
Only the strong survive

Don't go around with your head hung down
Wouldn't let her know wouldn't let her know that she made me feel just like a clown
Whole lot a girls lookin' for a good man like you
Oh but you'll never meet 'em if you give up now and say that your life is through

Only the strong survive only the strong survive
You've gotta be a man gotta take a stand yeah take a stand

[ strings ]
Only the strong survive only the strong survive
Gotta be strong gotta hold on cause only the strong survive
Only the strong survive only the strong survive
Gotta be a man gotta take a stand
Only the strong survive only the strong survive