Hide your background, hide your fame 

Hide your given middle name 

Swallow your pride, swallow your pills 

In your house up in the hills 



Leave your husband, leave your wife 

Keep on runnin' your whole life 

Sweep your dirt under the rug 

Fix your hurt with a little love 



[Chorus:]

From the cradle to the grave 

You will always be a slave 

To the quiet darkness of your memories 

And that's the truth, my friend 

The ugly truth, my friend 

I've got proof, my friend 

And that's the truth 



Keep your secrets to yourself 

Keep your paperbacks up on the shelf 

Burn your bridges, burn your friends 

Blow 'em kisses and make amends 



Take the high road or take the low 

No one but you and God will ever know 

And you might play rough and win or lose 

Either way, love, you'll get the blues 



[Repeat chorus]



I've got proof, my friend 

And that's the truth