Live And Learn
Joe Public Lyrics

You've got to live and learn
It is necessary to experience life and gain knowledge through it

You've got to live and learn
It is necessary to experience life and gain knowledge through it

Before your bridges burn
Before you have any irreversible consequences from your actions

You've got to live and learn
It is necessary to experience life and gain knowledge through it

Here's a little story about life
The following lyrics are a story about experiences in life

Everybody that lives surely dies
All living beings will eventually die

A lot of people ask the questions why
Many people question the purpose of life

Some people have to go through so much more
Some individuals have to endure more obstacles and hardship to gain knowledge

Before they really learn about life's score
Before they gain true understanding of the nature of life

The subject is not to be ignored (Kick it to ‘em, Joe)
This topic (the necessity of experiencing life to gain knowledge) should not be overlooked

I don't want to be the one
I am not trying to be the person

To tell you how it's gotta be
To dictate how things should be done

Livin' is the only way
Experiencing life is the only way to truly understand it

You're ever really gonna see
To truly comprehend and understand the nature of life

Ah, yeah
An exclamation of agreement or excitement

y'all, check it
Listen closely, pay attention

Kick this one for the Public
This song is for the people, to spread a message

There's so much wrong and negativity
There is an abundance of negativity in the world

Enough for the whole world to see
It is apparent and visible to everyone

I know there's still a possibility
Despite the negativity, there is still hope

You raise a little kid, he turns out bold
The way you raise a child can impact their personality

It may be from the way you treat him cold
If you are cruel or unloving towards a child, it may shape their character

I guess that's how the story's told (Tell ‘em what it is)
That is the way things have played out, that is the reality

If large is how ya livin'
If you are living a luxurious lifestyle

Why you're livin' large, are you takin' what is given
Are you taking advantage of opportunities handed to you?

To you, in the form of true experience
Experiences are a valuable form of wealth

‘Cause if you're not your whole life could be spent
If you do not gain valuable life experiences, your life could be wasted

Doin' time for a crime you say you didn't even do
Being punished for something you claimed to not have done

The only fool that you're foolin' is the fool that is you
You are only deceiving yourself

Didn't even turn around to check and see if your bridge is burnin'
Not noticing the negative effects of your actions until it is too late

I guess it's true what they say that without livin' there's no learnin'
Experiencing life is essential to gaining knowledge and understanding

And this is from the J, the O, and the E
The three artists responsible for creating this song

Mary, Mary, Mary, it's quite contrary
A reference to the nursery rhyme

Yo', how did you earn your dough
How did you make your money

You didn't finish school, you ain't got no job
An example of the negative effects of lack of education and employment

But to the human eye it's pretty simple
To an observer, it may appear obvious

You're always talkin' about what you want is respect
You prioritize being respected

But never thinkin' about the little boy you neglect
Failing to consider the negative impact of neglecting a child

Spendin' his formative years in a livin' hell
A child raised in a difficult environment may face hardships that shape their life

Not realizin' one day he'd end up in jail
He did not foresee the negative consequences of his upbringing

Now on the other hand, there's Dan my man
An example of a different perspective or situation

Who planned a scam and I'll be damned
An individual who devised a dishonest scheme

It was the ultimate flim flam
A masterful deception

He was sayin' that it was easy as pie
He claimed it was simple and effortless

But little did Dan know he was about to die
His scheme had consequences he did not anticipate