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 all alone Cryin' your eyes out 'cos 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 'cos only the strong survive That's what she said only the strong survive Only the strong survive Oh you've got to be strong you'd better hold on Don't go all around with your head hung down Well 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 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 Yes she said: Only the strong survive only the strong survive You've got to be a man you've got to take a stand Only the strong survive only the strong survive Oh you've got to be strong you'd better hold on 'Cos only the strong survive Only the strong survive only the strong survive Well you've got to be a man you've got to take a stand Only the strong survive only the strong survive