Reach Out Your Hand

Seems like nowadays,… I’ve forgotten all the pains of my yesterdays
Looking back, they seem to have been so small
Questions and fears that I had,… of life that would make me so very sad
Now its funny to see I was scared of it all,… so scared to fall

Back then my Father could see, things were scaring me
And taught me to stand on my own
Told me, “Son, you can always count on me,…
‘Cause for as long as I’m here, you don’t have to fear,
‘Bout facing this world all alone”
He gave me the desire to reach for my dreams

And he told me, “Son,… life can be so hard,…
And they’ll be times whe you’ll think that you’re losing it all.
But if your problems make it hard to see,… Just remember you can call on me”.

And the things that he taught me, I’ll take with me everywhere,…
Since then I’ve reached for my dreams with desire and not a care,…
‘Cause I’m no longer scared

(SOLO #1)

30 years have come and gone and now I’ve got me a family of my very own
It’s been hard, but we do the best that we can
Then my son, you know, he’s been asking me questions I asked long ago,…
Says, “Daddy, won’t you help me to understand?”

And he asks me, “Daddy,… how do birds fly? Why do people die?
What does ‘racism’ mean? Is there something that I should know,…
I feel so all alone,… in this world of uncertainty.
Is there something that you can say,… to make these fears go away?”
And I just thought of my old man, and remembered these words he said:

Be a man,… Oh, be a man,…. (You see, son,… Let me tell you)
I had the best teacher of them all,…
Grace under pressure he kept standing tall
Oh, as a father, he was tried and true,…
And now I want to pass his teachings to you:

He taught me Hope,….     (Faith, Love and Honesty)
Oh, and how to Cope,…     (With other people’s hypocrisies)
Do all you can,…     (Don’t be so hurried, just take your time)
And always try to help your fellow man,…     (Study hard & always use your mind)
Try to stay strong,…     (Don’t let anyone steal your dreams)
But admit when you’re wrong,…     (There’s nothing out there that you can’t be)
Anytime at all,…     (If you need me, then I’ll be there)
Just give me a call,…     (‘Cause you’re my son and I will always care)

(SOLO #2)

Just reach out your hand and I’ll walk you through,…
Nothing could ever come between me and you,…
I’ll teach you to be strong,… Teach you right from wrong,…
And give you all the love that I can,…
Just reach out your hand and let me teach you how to be a man.
Just reach out your hand and let me teach you how to be a man.
Just reach out your hand and let me teach you how to be a man.