When my songs turn to ashes on my tongue
When I look at the mirror and see I'm no longer young
Then I got to start again the job of separating false from true
And then I know, I know I need the love of you

When I found tarnish on some of my brightest dreams
When some folks I trusted turned out not quite what they seemed
Then I got to start the job of separating false from true
Then once more I know, I know I need the love of you

No song I can sing will make Governor Wallace change his mind
No song I can sing will take the gun from a hate-filled man
But I promise you, and you, brothers and sisters of every skin
I'll sing your story while I've breath within

We got to keep on keeping on, even when the sun goes down
We got to live, live, live, live 'til another day comes 'round
Meanwhile, better start over separating false from true
And more and more, I know I need the love of you