[Verse 1 ] **If you can keep your head when all about you** **Are losing theirs and blaming it on you...** **If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,** **But make allowance for their doubting too...** [Pre-Chorus] **If you can wait and not be tired by waiting...** **(Can you?!)** **Or being lied about, don't deal in lies...** **(DO YOU?!)** [Chorus] **OR BEING HATED, DON'T GIVE WAY TO HATING!** **AND YET DON'T LOOK TOO GOOD, NOR TALK TOO WISE!** **IT'S A WIRE, A TIGHTENING SCREW!** **THIS PERFECT, BLOODLESS YOU!** [Verse 2 ] **If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;** **If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;** **If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster** **And treat those two impostors just the same...** [Pre-Chorus] **If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken** **Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools...** **(A TRAP!)** **Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken...** **(BROKEN!)** [Chorus] **AND STOOP AND BUILD 'EM UP WITH WORN-OUT TOOLS!** **DON'T GIVE WAY TO HATING! DON'T TALK TOO WISE!** **IT'S A WIRE, A TIGHTENING SCREW!** **THIS PERFECT, BLOODLESS YOU!** [Bridge ] **If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew** **To serve your turn long after they are gone...** **And so hold on when there is nothing in you...** **Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on..."** **...what's left when the holding on is done?** **A man? Or just a monument?** [Final Chorus] **DON'T GIVE WAY TO HATING! DON'T TALK TOO WISE!** **JUST HOLD ON! HOLD ON!** **IT'S A WIRE! A TIGHTENING SCREW!** **WHAT'S LEFT... OF YOU?...**
