He said
"I was in my early forties
With a lot of life before me
When a moment came that stopped me on a dime
I spent most of the next days
Looking at the X-rays
And talkin' 'bout the options
And talkin' 'bout sweet time"
I asked him
"When it sank in
That this might really be the real end
How's it hit you
When you get that kind of news?
Man, what'd you do?"

And he said
"I went skydiving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying"
And he said
"Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying"

He said
"I was finally the husband
That most of the time I wasn't
And I became a friend a friend would like to have
And all of a sudden going fishin'
Wasn't such an imposition
And I went three times that year I lost my dad
Well I, I finally read the Good Book, and I
Took a good, long, hard look
At what I'd do if I could do it all again
And then

I went skydiving
I went Rocky Mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
And I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I gave forgiveness I'd been denying"
And he said
"Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying
Like tomorrow was a gift
And you got eternity
To think about
What you'd do with it?
What could you do with it?
What did I do with it?
What would I do with it?

Skydiving
I went Rocky mountain climbing
I went 2.7 seconds on a bull named Fumanchu
Man, I loved deeper
And I spoke sweeter
And I watched an eagle as it was flying"
And he said
"Someday I hope you get the chance
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying
To live like you were dying"
Woo


Lyrics submitted by diegorockusa

Live Like You Were Dying Lyrics as written by James Timothy Nichols Craig Michael Wiseman

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Live Like You Were Dying song meanings
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28 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    why is there so many comments sayin you "dont usually like country". i WAS like this where i said i dont like pop/r'n'b blah blah music. but you gotta open your mind for music. you miss out on too many great songs if you refuse to listen to music because it's from a certain artist or from a certain genre. sorry this is a bit of a rant but FOR GOD SAKE PEOPLE, OPEN YOUR MIND

    dunstableon July 18, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I originally heard this song a while ago on a easy listening station while commercials were hoarding my usual stations. I thought it was a great song and, being from Philly, knew the meaning immediately, but it didn't take on a personal meaning until my own father was diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. He was diagnosed at 62 so he was older than Tug when he found out so he really couldn't do a lot of the things the song implies. However, the song does give a very optimistic view on how life should be viewed to make it better for everyone involved. My father died yesterday. He was always a Half-Empty kind of man, and never made anything simple for anyone but his grandbabies. I wish he could have lived like this so he could have enjoyed his last year to the fullest, and so the rest of us who loved him could have enjoyed spending time with him. My oldest brother said it best when we were in the ER. He said, out of nowhere mind you, " I wish dad had a Fu Manchu." Regardless of who wrote the song, the song itself was performed excellently, and the message was crystal-clear. Being negative and not enjoying life while it's still around is never healthy for you or anyone around you, so think before you act, and if, God forbid, you find yourself in this scenario, don't dwell on why, but act on all the things you wish you could've done before.

    BubbyBabyBreathon January 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i can not believe no one has commented on this song i know it is self explnatory but thin about it has anyone fulfilled their life like they have wanted? this is so insperational nad a terrific song!!!!

    whscutie21on October 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is a pretty good tune. Tim McGraw is awesome!

    zacsteron November 04, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song, I can only let myself listen to it every once in a while because if I hear a song too much I get bored with it. But I don't think this song can ever get boring to me. It is such a good song I love it!

    jenn_06on November 05, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and the doctors all thought i was going to die, I am in my late 20s. While I was nearing the end of treatment this song came out. Every word of it rang true to me.

    heartofdixieangelon November 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The line is actually: "I went 2.7 seconds on a bull name Fu Manchu." :)

    Incredible song...cried the first time I heard it. It's amazing how much of life we take for granted!

    DysgenicBabeon November 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I first heard this song when i found out that my best friends dad had just died, i couldn't hold back the tears they just fell out uncontrollably, guess it shows how deep this song is, and it also makes you think about what you would do if you found out you were dying...i know ever since this song came out i thought about it. My dad died when i was four, and this song always makes me hope that he got a chance to live like he was dying.

    whiskeygirl11on November 25, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    In this song Tim is singing to his dad who passed away so he wrote this song about him. His dad was a professional baseball player named Tug McGraw.

    Peyton2015on December 07, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is really sad but it really inspires you to live your life to the fullest....you never know when you are going to die...do what you want to and no regrets

    texascrystalon December 07, 2004   Link

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