[Verse 1]
Stood in the middle of life love and loss
No longer bulletproof, no longer young
Surfing the ripples of pride and remorse
The glory's fading, and the kids are all gone
Hard to believe the memories are yours
And wondering if you still belong

[Chorus]
When it feels like the work was for nothing
And you're wrecked and in retreat
Survival adds up to something:
Independent, undefeated

[Verse 2]
Tired of pretending that the arrows don't hurt
And there aren't days when I just want to go home
How reassuring - it could have gone worse
Could have been a contender, should have known
The last one standing of the ones who came first
Where the hell did all the rest of them go?

[Chorus]
When it feels like the work was for nothing
And you're wrecked and in retreat
Survival adds up to something:
Independent, undefeated
[Bridge]
Grateful that you got this far and
Proud that you behaved no worse
Giving up on hope for a better past
Passing through the bitterness
The future is no darker
Just because you won't be there
Autumn in the wilderness
Can be the prettiest time of year
Remember that you got this far

[Chorus]
When it feels like the work was for nothing
And you're wrecked and in retreat
Survival adds up to something:
Independent, undefeated

[Outro]
Independent, undefeated
Independent, undefeated