'If I had my life to live over
I'd live it
Not give it
Up to safety
And the sensible way.

I'd make more mistakes
Take more chances
Make sure my troubles were real
And not imagined
They would then be worth the bother.

If I had my life to live over,
I would try for more 'moments',
As many as I could,
And I would
In every fresh day
Cherish the new
Instead of always trying to explain the old.

I would be bold,
Never dread what lay ahead
But take it as it comes
Good or bad - and be glad.
I would sing more loudly,
Dance more abandonedly,
Love less guiltily,
Sleep more soundly,
Waken optimistically.

If I had my life to live over,
I would live it
Right up to the last gasp
Which would not be a sigh
But a 'Hallelujah!'.'

Copyright: John Cairney, 1977