1. I was sitting on a bench with my ankle taped up
Watching our team getting beat like a drum by a rival school
They were giving high fives and acting cool.

Tommy fouled out and the coach looked around
Said, “22, it looks like it's down to you
Going back in, do you think you can go again?”

In the back of my mind, I saw an old sign
Hanging up in the junior high gym
Said, 'Never give up 'cause winners never quit
And quitters never win'.

[Chorus:]
Sometimes you gotta suck it up
And go bite down on the bullet
Don't let nobody know.

Wrap it up, walk it off
Tough it out, dust off the dirt
Sometimes you gotta play hurt.

2. I called my folks and told 'em she was the one
All they could say was, “We're happy for you, son
It's about time, you left your rowdy ways behind”.

She figured out she was destined
For some other place
And a little bit more than me I guess
I got the ring back, UPS.

For a while I thought I'd never smile
Like she made me smile again
Now I realized you can't sit around
And wait for your life to mend.

[Bridge:]
I know you're feeling all torn down
Life's been tough and you've hit rock bottom
Ain't nobody gonna do it for you.

You gotta get up, try again
When the going gets tough
You gotta jump back in.

[Coda:]
Play hurt, play hurt
Wrap it up, walk off
Tough it out, dust off the dirt
Sometimes you gotta play hurt.