When my songs turn to ashes on my tongue
When I look in the mirror and
See I'm no longer young
Then I got to start 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 evry 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 until another day comes 'round
Meanwhile, better start over
Separating false from true
And more and more
I know I need the love of you