[Intro]
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)

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus]
Only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Yeah, you've gotta be strong (Strong)
You've gotta hold on (Hold on)
Only the strong survive (Don't go)
[Verse 2]
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

[Chorus]
'Cause only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Oh, you've gotta be a man (Man)
You've gotta take a stand (Oh yeah)
'Cause only the strong survive

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

[Chorus]
Only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Yeah, you've gotta hold on (Hold on)
You've gotta 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 gotta take that stand (Stand)
'Cause only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Yeah, you've gotta be strong
You've gotta hold on
'Cause only the strong survive
Oh, better times are coming