I remember, wasn't so long ago

We had a one room shack and the livin' was low

And my mama by herself raised me and my bro

Wasn't easy, but we did it with the little that go

Worked hard, got us up for school every day

And kept her eyes on the stars when the skies were gray

Gave us pride to survive, really showed us the way

Now I really understood what she was tryin' to say



She said, "Son there'll be times when the tides are high

And the boat may be rocky, you can cry

Just never give up

You can never give up," uh-uh



In this life you could lead if you only believe

And in order to achieve what you need

You can never give up

You can never give up



And this hope

That keep me holding on

On and on

And this hope

That makes me carry on

On and on



Boom-boom, couldn't have made it alone

I got a wonderful life, two kids on my own

With a strong foundation that was carved in stone

And my mama for the love that made my house a home

Made me wonder some time if this was meant to be

All this for a humble little guy like me

And all I ever really wanted was a family

To teach my kids the same value that she gave to me



She said, 'Son there'll be times when the tides are high

And the boat may be rocky, you can cry

Just never give up

You can never give up,' uh-uh



In this life you could lead if you only believe

And in order to achieve what you need

You can never give up

You can never give up



And this hope

That keep me holding on

And on

And this hope

That makes me carry on

On and on



We nah turn no stepper, things a go better

Never let yourself be overcome by pressure

Cool yah me bredda, have faith instead a

Sid-dung and a watch and all a fight one another

Blaze like fire, we nah go retire

God nah sleep and a within him we inspire

We have to reach higher for what we require

We have to make our mark before the time expire



And this hope

That keep me holding on

And on

And this hope

That makes me carry on

On and on



And this hope

That keep me holding on

And on

And this hope

That makes me carry on

On and on



There's hope, yeah

Hope keeps it alive, yeah, uh

Hope keeps it alive, yeah, uh

And it strikes an iron, uh

Hope keeps it alive, yeah, yeah

Hope keeps it alive, yeah

Only the strong survive, yeah

Keep it carry on, keep it carry on, yeah

Uh-uh

I'll keep it carry on, yeah

I gotta carry on, gotta carry on and be strong

Uh-uh-uh

Yeah, yeah, yeah, uh-uh



And this hope

That keep me holding on

And on

And this hope

That makes me carry on

On and on