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.

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Live Like You Were Dying song meanings
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  • +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

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