All my life I've been a poor boy; it's been hard to get a dime Everything I got I had to pay for it on time, but that's all right Long as I got a toe hold, long as I got a piece of you Long as I got a toe hold, I can make it through Look here, I said I went to see a doctor, baby talk about his malnutrition Now I don't try to be a fat man; I gotta look about my ambition, look here Long as I got a toe hold, long as I got a piece of you Long as I got a toe hold, I can make it through A li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li toe hold, a li-li-li-li-li-li-li-li toe hold, hey! So baby, if you're with me, let the whole world be against me I don't expect to ever get rich, I'm doin' fine, me diggin' a ditch; that's all right Long as I got a toe hold, long as I got a piece of you Long as I got a toe hold, I can make it through Ah, ooo baby, ow, good God!