an old man on his deathbed once said to me you are the master of your destiny a diamond is a diamond and a stone is a stone but a man s not all good nor all bad when the chips are all down and your back s at the wall you re the best friend that you ve ever had you re the best friend that you ve ever had so you laugh when it s time to laugh and you cry when it s time to cry live while it s time to live cause you ll die when it s time to die then he closed his eyes and he left me alone this old man s wisdom brought his meaning home a diamond is a diamond and a stone is a stone but a man s not all good nor all bad when the chips are all down and your back s at the wall you re the best friend that you ve ever had you re the best friend that you ve ever had so you laugh when it s time to laugh and you cry when it s time to cry live while it s time to live cause you ll die when it s time to die well now that i m older i found this is true the thing that remains is the good that you do a diamond is a diamond and a stone is a stone but a man s not all good nor all bad when the chips are all down and your back s at the wall god s the best friend that you ve ever had god s the best friend that you ve ever had  so you laugh when it s time to laugh and you cry when it s time to cry live while it s time to live cause you ll die when it s time to die