written by george devore bend but don t break give before you take always look em right in the eye these are words to live by jim proposed to sue she said i do they eloped into a summer s night heading for loredo that s the way wind blew they got in their first real fight standing at the alter shoes and her halter jim sweating out his sunday best looking all around them but nobody found them and this is what the preacher said chorus bend but don t break give before you take always look em right in the eye always have a reason dress right for the season never cheat and never lie these are words to live by billy s washing dishes and all the time he wishes he could find a better way yea and no season had rain for a country singer bound for a life of that fortune and fame he wrote a couple songs and they got a long into the hands of a bad nashville man playin on the radio and he ain t never seen no doe looks back down at them ugly pots and pans repeat chorus bridge you know times in our life are nervous and reckless sometimes it s hard just to get by ain t it good to know that we can still grow so gimme one word and tell me one time always me and mother and never were no other daddy died when i was just three always understood that she did the best she could i needed someone right there momma would be i never thought twice to ask for advice when i got crazy in my head what ever the cause she would slowly pause and this is what momma said repeat chorus