it s the spring of your time and the time has come the open road will seize you won t you roll to a stop won t you gaze at the drop and the awful miles before you take care where you step don t you know that it stifled the life above you strangle stay right if you can oh you poor old man you were born to be in battle in the summer you ll find that you rolled us aside a tangled man made thicket take care you don t lean with your toes in a string that sweeps away the river survey all you see cause there s still time to leave the prior hand of ramble stay right if you can oh you poor old man you were born to be in battle in the fall of your time you re astounded to find so much is now behind you with tears of your own you ll be scared fore you know just walk the dark and tell them what i told you in days of your youth what s well within the travel stay right if you can oh you poor old man you were born to be in battle in the winter of life you ll be asked for your life lay down all forts surrender and all that is you that is precious and true as your full price you ll tender and i will look on but i long for you son don t stay right if you can oh you poor old man you were born to be in battle