[Verse 1]
People always coming up to me and asking
"Dolly, what's your secret?
With all you do, your attitude just seems to be so good
How do you keep it?"
Well, I'm not the Dalai Lama, but I'll try
To offer up a few words of advice

[Chorus]
You better get to living, giving
Don't forget to throw in a little forgiving
And loving on the way
You better get to knowing, showing
A little bit more concerned about where you're going
Is a word unto the wise
You better get to living

[Verse 2]
A girlfriend came to my house, started crying on my shoulder
Sunday evening (Better get to living)
She was spinning such a sad tale, I could not believe the yarn
That she was weaving (Better get to living)
So negative, the words she had to say
I said if I had a violin, I'd play

[Chorus]
I said you'd better get to living, giving
Be willing and forgiving
'Cause all healing has to start with you
You better stop whining, pining
Get your dreams in line
And then just shine, design, refine 'til they come true
And you better get to living
[Bridge]
Your life's a wreck, your house is mess and your wardrobe way outdated
All your plans just keep on falling through
Overweight and underpaid, underappreciated
I'm no guru, but I'll tell you this I know is true

[Chorus]
You better get to living, giving
A little more thought about being
A little more willing to make a better way (Make a better way)
Don't sweat the small stuff, keep your chin up
Just hang tough, and if it gets too rough
Fall on your knees and pray

[Post-Chorus]
And do that every day
Then you'll get to living

[Outro]
The day we're born, we start to die
Don't waste one minute of this life
Get to living (Better get to living)
Share your dreams and share your laughter
Make some points for the great hereafter (Better get to living)
Better start caring, better start sharing
Better start trying, better start smiling
And you better get to living