Ow   Yeah, yeah      When I was a young skinny boy   My momma said to me   The world out there is hot and dirty   Mean as it wants to be   I know there's gonna be times when you're down and out   So listen now kid   Listen now son   I'll tell you what it's all about      You gotta try to keep your head above the water   That's what my momma told me   You gotta try to keep a step ahead of time   And even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to   Shouldn't ought to   If you love your brothers love will come back to you   Love'll come back to you   Love'll come back to you   Love'll come back to you      Live my life in so many ways   To find out who I am   Time's approaching   I really can say   Truly I understand   Got more livin' to do for myself   So run along now   Play along later   Stay up by the shelf   Sing it girls      Gotta try to keep your head above the water   Yes you do yes I do   You gotta try to keep a step ahead of time   Even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to   If you love your sisters love will come back to you   Love'll come back to you   Love'll come back to you      All the world is turnin' to stone   Slowly it will die   But that is something I never will see   I don't know why   Tryin' to take the world the best I can   Might be now   Probably be later   Stand up like a man   hey, hey      Gotta try to keep your head above the water   Yes you do yes you do yes you do   Gotta try to keep a step ahead of time   Even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to   Love your brothers and sisters, love'll come back to you   Love'll come back to you   Love'll come back to you