Lyrics: Chicago. Chicago VII. Skinny Boy.

Ow
Yeah, yeah

When I was a young skinny boy, my mama said to me
"The world out there is hard and dirty, mean as it wants to be
I know there's gonna be times when you're down and out
So listen now kid, listen now son, I'll tell you what it's all about"

You gotta try to keep your head above the water
That's what my mama told me
You gotta try to keep a step ahead of time
And even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to
Shouldn't ought to
If you love your brothers love will come back to you
Love'll come back to you, love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you

Lived my life in so many ways to find out who I am
Time's approaching I really can say, truly I understand
Got more livin' to do for myself
To run along now, play along later, stay up by the shelf, sing it girls

Gotta try to keep your head above the water
Yes you do yes you do
You gotta try to keep a step ahead of time

Even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to
If you love your sisters, love will come back to you
Love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you

All the world is turnin' slow, slowly it will die
But that is something I never will see, I don't know why
Tryin' to take the world the best I can
Write a bit now, love a bit later, stand up like a man, hey, hey

Gotta try to keep your head above the water
Yes you do, yes you do, yes you do
Gotta try to keep a step ahead of time
Even though you do some things you shouldn't ought to
Love your brothers and sisters, love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you

Love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you
Love'll come back to you
...