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