When I was just a young boy I had to work hard 'cause my daddy was gone My momma said, "Son, life is never easy And if you wanna win then you gotta be strong" I gotta be strong I heard her say, "It ain't ever black or white But when it's time to choose I know you'll do what's right You gotta stand up and fight" Give it up, give it everything you got Give it all, if you wanna take it to the top Give it up, 'cause you know there'll come a time When you gotta lay it, lay it, lay it You gotta lay it on the line Well I, well I was only fifteen When I heard that rock 'n' roll sound Oh, what a sound! I bought a secondhand six-string And I played it out of that neon town I still recall those old words from yesterday I pick up that old guitar And every time I play I can still hear her say Give it up, give it everything you got Give it all, if you wanna take it to the top Give it up, 'cause you know there'll come a time When you gotta lay it, lay it, lay it You gotta lay it on the line I remember those hard times I always had to fight just to make it through But now it's all behind me, but those old words Still ring true, still ring true now The more it changes, the more it stays the same And boy, I'm telling you, if you wanna play the game The lesson's still the same Give it up, give it everything you got Give it all, if you wanna take it to the top Give it up, 'cause you know there'll come a time When you gotta lay it, lay it, lay it You gotta lay it on the line Give it all, if you wanna take it to the top Give it up, 'cause you know there'll come a time When you gotta lay it, lay it, lay it You gotta lay it on the line Lay it on the line