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Only The Strong Survive

(Kenny Gamble / Leon Huff / Jerry Butler)


Copyright Parabut/Double Diamond/Downstairs

Original by Jerry Butler in 1968


RCA studio session - February 17-22, 1969 - American Studios - Memphis

 February 20, 2:30-5:30 am

XPA5 1272-29


Overdub session for RCA - March 18, 1969 - American Sound - Memphis

 Evening

XPA5 1272-29 - Overdub


Overdub session for RCA - March 21, 1969 - American Sound - Memphis

 XPA5 1272-29 - Overdub
May 1969 LP RCA LSP 4155 From Elvis In Memphis
Re-mixed version:
June 30, 1987 CD RCA 6221-2-R The Memphis Record
Outtakes:
Takes 1, 17, 21, 22 and 29 unfinished master: April 2013 CD FTD 506020 975047 From Elvis In Memphis
Take 22: October 10, 2001 2001 CD FTD 74321 84216-2 Memphis Sessions


Re-recording sessions - First session - Young 'un Sound Studio - Murfreesboro

 January 24, 1980
KWA5 8240

February 1, 1980 - Afternoon
KWA5 8240
November 25, 2000 CD FTD 74321 81233-2 Too Much Monkey Business






I remember my first love affair
Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
My mamma had some great advice
So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
I can still hear her sayin' it


Boy, (boy) Oh, I see you're sittin' out there all alone
Cryin' your eyes out 'cos the woman that you love has gone
Oh, there's gonna be, there's gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life
(whole lotta trouble)
Oh, so listen to me get up off your knees 'cos only the strong survive
That's what she said, only the strong survive
Only the strong survive,
Oh you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
Don't go all around with your head hung down
Well I wouldn't let that little girl
No, I wouldn't let her know that she made me feel like a clown
There's a whole lot a girls (whole lotta girls) lookin' for a good man like you
Oh but you'll never meet 'em if you give up now and say that your life is
through
Yes she said: Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
You've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand
(Boy) (Boy) (Oh Boy)
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
Oh, you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
'Cos only the strong survive
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
Well, you've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand
Only the strong survive, only the strong survive, 




Standard tuning.
    Ab
    I remember my first love affair
    Ab
    Somehow or another the whole darn thing went wrong
    Ab
    My mamma had some great advice
    Ab
    So I thought I'd put it into words of this song
    Ab
    I can still hear her sayin' it
    Ab
    Boy, Oh, I see you're sittin' out there all alone
    Ab
    Cryin' your eyes out 'cos the woman that you love has gone
    Ab
    Oh, there's gonna be, there's gonna be a whole lot of trouble in your life
    Ab
    Oh, so listen to me get up off your knees 'cos only the strong survive
    Ab
    That's what she said, only the strong survive
    Ab
    Only the strong survive,
              Bb        C             Db          Eb
    Oh you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
    Ab
    Don't go all around with your head hung down
    Ab
    Well I wouldn't let that little girl
    Ab
    No, I wouldn't let her know that she made me feel like a clown
    Ab
    There's a whole lot a girls lookin' for a good man like you
    Ab
    Oh but you'll never meet 'em if you give up now and say that your life is through
                  Ab
    Yes she said: Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
           Bb          C           Db            Eb
    You've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand

             Ab
    Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
               Bb        C             Db          Eb
    Oh, you've got to be strong, you'd better hold on
    Ab
    'Cos only the strong survive
    Ab
    Only the strong survive, only the strong survive,
                 Bb        C             Db            Eb
    Well, you've got to be a man, you've got to take a stand
    Ab
    Only the strong survive, only the strong survive