If you don't like me

How you gonna love me

If you can't stand beside me

How you gonna stand above me

When I'm falling down

And I hit the ground

Are you playing for keeps

Or are you just playing around

There's a high road to China

And all roads lead to roam

But there's no road finer

Than the one that takes you home

They say that's where the heart is

Mine just goes from town to town

Are you playing for keeps

Or are you just running around

Didn't your Mama teach you something

About thinking twice before you let the words fall

Didn't your Papa tell you nothing

If you can't say something nice to me

Don't say anything at all

There's brown boys playing horseshoes

And black boys playing craps

There's white boys playing eight ball

There's a trumpet playing taps

Oh, can you hear the sound

As the sun goes down

Is it playing for keeps

Or is it just playing around

If you don't like me

How you gonna love me

If you can't stand beside me

How you gonna stand above me

When I'm falling down

And I hit the ground

Are you playing for keeps

Or are you just playing around