Lyrics:

(I remember) I remember my first love affair
(I remember) Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
(I remember) But my momma had some great advice, so I thought I'd put it in the words of this song
(I remember) I can still hear her sayin'

'Boy (boy, boy)
Oh, I see you sittin' there all alone
Crying your eyes out
Cause the woman that you love is gone

'Oh, there's gonna be, there's gonna be
A whole lot of trouble in your life (a whole lot of trouble)
Oh, so listen to me, get up off your knees
Cause only the strong survive'

That's what she said, she'd go
'Only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Yeah, you've got to be strong (strong)
You'd better hold on (hold on)

'Don't go (don't go)
All around with your head hung down
Well, I wouldn't let that little girl know
Wouldn't let her know that she made me feel like a clown

'There are a whole lot a girls (whole lot of girls)
Looking 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
'Only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Yeah, you've got to be a man (man)
You gotta take a stand (gotta)'

So I am telling you right now
Only the strong survive
Only the strong survive
Hey, you've got to be strong (strong)
You'd better hold on (hold on)

Don't worry about it
Don't you know that things are gonna change
Oh, but you've got to be a man (man)
You've got to take a stand (stand)

Don't ever feel that (don't ever)
You can't make it, baby
Cause there ain't nobody