The House You Live In

Go first in the world, go forth with your fears Remember a price must be paid Be always too soon, be never too fast At the time when all bets must be laid Beware of the darkness, be kind to your children Remember the woman who waits And the house you live in will never fall down If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate When you're caught by the gale and you're full under sail Beware of the dangers below And the song that you sing should not be too sad And be sure not to sing it too slow Be calm in the face of all common disgraces And know what they're doin' it for And the house you live in will never fall down If you pity the stranger who stands at your door When you're out on the road and feelin' quite lost Consider the burden of fame And he who is wise will not criticize When other men fail at the game Beware of strange faces and dark dingy places Be careful while bending the law And the house you live in will never fall down If you pity the stranger who stands at your door When you're down in the dumps and not ready to deal Decide what it is that you need Is it money or love, is it learnin' to live Or is it the mouth you must feed Be known as a man who will always be candid On questions that do not relate And the house you live in will never fall down If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate And the house you live in will never fall down If you pity the stranger who stands at your gate --- The House You Live In - Gordon Lightfoot