Papa used to say,
"I won't be here forever,
You gotta learn for yourself
to do things you ought to.

Life ain't gonna be easy,
you gotta keep believing.
No one owes you a penny
if you never worked to earn it".

Papa used say,
"I won't be here forever
You gotta learn for yourself
to be brave and strong
for there will be ugly days ahead.

You gotta learn to give love
even when you've never been given".

"It is a cold world out there,
covered in gross darkness,
there is plenty of pain and suffering.
Be ready to shine your light".

Papa used to say,
"we all need saving --
the preacher out there in the streets
and the robber out there in prison
We all need saving.

So look upon others
with nothing but compassion.
For if it wasn't for love
we wouldn't mention humanity".

Papa used to say,
"Let us not lose our heads in anger,
there's nothing more liberating
than freely dished out forgiveness.

The more it's given
the harder it becomes.
But if there's no hostility
how can true love be proven?"

I'd get mad at papa
for all he said sounded ridiculous.
Won't be here forever?
Why the hurry to leave?

Now papa is gone.
The years have slowly
Revealed to me
the same things papa once saw.

I've had my share of love.
I've had my share of loss.
It is indeed true,
There ain't no better teacher than experience.

If only I had listened
to what papa once said
I'd have saved myself
from a whole lot of hurting.
No regrets though,
we live to learn.

Promise I'd tell my kids
Same thing papa used to say,
"I won't be here forever
You gotta learn for yourself
To do things you ought to

Life ain't gonna be easy but you gotta keep believing
No one owes you a penny
if you never worked to earn it..."