You gotta answer to yourself You can't depend on anyone else You gotta know where you stand And what's in your hands Yeah, you gotta answer to yourself You gotta write down what you know You gotta make sure that it's known Because they're coming along to see what you've done And they're gonna claim it for their own You got a rabbit in your hat You got a few tricks up your sleeve Don't get stuck in a rut Or stuck in the same You got exactly what you need You got a talent, don't you know? You're more talented than you know And you give it a shot And give it the time And be surprised how far it goes But I think I'm gonna die Before I see my time But I think I'm gonna die Trying anyway You gotta answer to yourself Two days a week outside yourself You take an hour a day, an hour a day And you don't respond to anyone else You got a few things on your shelf You got to look through for yourself You gotta choose what to read Choose what to believe And you don't take it from anyone else But I think I'm gonna die Before I see my time But I think I'm gonna die Trying anyway But I think I'm gonna die Before I see my time But I think I'm gonna die Trying anyway