I was a little boy of 9 years old

The whole world in my hands

Trying to toss that ball across the yard

A game of catch with my old man

He would always say I'm sorry

Every time he had to leave

And I was much too young to understand

When he would say to me

When you're young you always think

The sun is gonna shine

There will come a day

When you have to say hello to goodbye

Sit down son take my hand,

Look me in the eye

Take these words, promise me

You'll live before you die

I was barely seventeen summer of seventy-nine

Already I was feeling like I was running out of time

I had this girl we fell in love

Or should I say that she had me

Then one fateful night changed our lives

And made a memory

When you're young you always think

The sun is gonna shine

There will come a day

When you have to say hello to goodbye

She laid me down she took my hand

And looked me in the eye

And just before she kissed me she said

You got to live before we die

You learn to love to live

You fight and you forgive

You learn what's wrong and right

You live before you die

I made mistakes I caught some breaks

But I got no regrets

There's some things I don't remember

But one thing I don't forget

When you're young you always think

The sun is gonna shine

One day you're gonna have to say hello to goodbye

Shout it out let someone somewhere

Know that you're alive

Take these words wear them well

Live before you die

Live before you die

Hey!

Live before you die

You learn to love to live

You fight and you forgive

You face the darkest night

Just live before you die