When the boy became a man,
put away his childish things,
and he left his home and left his childish sorrow.
He set out to make a plan,
and he kitted out with haste,
but he couldn't earn and he was forced to borrow.
He would walk alone a mile,
he would suffer with a smile,
he would give his final dime to his brother.
He would give away his all,
and he'd stumble lurch and fall,
and he'd spend alone at night in the gutter.
but he bore his burden proud,
as he tried to get away,
with things that hounor life.
And he gave up everything just to hear his freedom ring,
and he hoped for better things for tomorrow.
And one one day it came to pass,
after giving up his last,
he could not obtain his cash to carry onward.
So the boy become a man,
had to make his final stand,
and he died without a friend to do him honor.
But he bore his burden proud,
as he tried to get away,
with things that honor life.
And he gave up everything,
just to hear his freedom ring,
and he hoped for better things for tomorrow.
Artist: Gladys Knight
Artist: Tom T. Hall
Artist: Tito Puente