ell, son, Ill tell you:

    Life for me aint been no crystal stair.

    Its acks in it,

    And splinters,

    And boards torn up,

    And places  on the floor—

    Bare.

    But all time

    Ise been a-climbin on,

    And reachin landins,

    And turnin corners,

    And sometimes goin in the dark

    been no light.

    So, boy, dont you turn back.

    Dont you set doeps.

    Cause you finds its kinder hard.

    Dont you fall now—

    For Ise still goin, honey,

    Ise still climbin,

    And life for me aint been no crystal stair.