I remember, my first love affair Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong My mama had some great advice So I thought I'd put it into words of this song I can still hear her saying it Boy, oh, I see you're sitting out there all alone Cryin' your eyes out 'Cause the woman that you love has gone There's gonna be, there's gonna be A whole lot of trouble in your life So listen to me get up off of your knees 'Cause only the strong survive That's what she said Only the strong survive, only the strong survive You've got to be strong, you'd better hold on Don't go, all around with your head hung down I wouldn't let that little girl No, I wouldn't let her know That she made me feel like a clown There's a whole lot a girl Lookin' for a good man like you Oh, but you'll never meet them if you give up now And say, your life is through Then she said it Only the strong survive, only the strong survive You've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand So I am telling you right now Only the strong survive, only the strong survive You've got to be strong, you'd better hold on Don't worry about it Don't you know that things are gonna change But you've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand Don't ever feel that like you can make it baby