You've got to live and learn (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)

Here's a little story about life
Everybody that lives surely dies
A lot of people ask the questions why
Some people have to go through so much more
Before they really learn about life's score
The subject is not to be ignored
Kick it to 'em, Joe

I don't want to be the one
To tell you how it's gotta be
Livin' is the only way
You're ever really gonna see

You've got to live and learn (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)

Ah, yeah
Yo, check it
Kick this one for the Public
Now break it down

There's so much wrong and negativity
Enough for the whole world to see
I know there's still a possibility
You raise a little kid, he turns out bold
It may be from the way you treat him cold
I guess that's how the story's told
Tell 'em what it is

I don't want to be the one
To tell you how it's gotta be
Livin' is the only way
You're ever really gonna see

You've got to live and learn (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn (go, go, go, go)

You've got to live and learn (check this out)
(I don't want to be the one) (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn
(To tell you how it's gotta be) (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn
(Livin' is the only way) (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn
(That you're ever gonna see) (go, go, go, go)

(Large)
If large is how ya livin'
Why you're livin' large? Are you takin' what is given
To you in the form of true experience?
'Cause if you're not, your whole life could be spent
Doin' time for a crime you say you didn't even do
The only fool that you're foolin' is the fool that is you
Didn't even turn around to check and see if your bridge is burnin'
I guess it's true what they say that without livin' there's no learnin'

Yeah
And this is from the J, the O, and the E

Mary, Mary, Mary, it's quite contrary
Yo, how did you earn your dough?
You didn't finish school, you ain't got no job
But to the human eye it's pretty simple (you've got to live and learn)
You're always talkin' about what you want is respect
But never thinkin' about the little boy you neglect (you've got to live and learn)
Spendin' his formative years in a livin' hell
Not realizin' one day he'd end up in jail (you've got to live and learn)
Now on the other hand, there's Dan my man
Who planned a scam and I'll be damned
It was the ultimate flim flam (before your bridges burn)
He was sayin' that it was easy as pie
But little did Dan know he was about to die

You've got to live and learn
(I don't want to be the one) (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn
(To tell you how it's gotta be) (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn
(Livin' is the only way) (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn
(That you're ever gonna see) (go, go, go, go)

You've got to live and learn
(I don't want to be the one) (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn
(To tell you how it's gotta be) (go, go, go, go)
Before your bridges burn
(Livin' is the only way) (brothers and sisters)
You've got to live and learn
(That you're ever gonna see) (go, go, go, go)

You've got to live and learn
(I don't want to be the one) (everybody over there)
You've got to live and learn
(To tell you how it's gotta be)