Well I've been ridin' a winning horse for a long, long time 
Sometimes I wonder is this the end of the line 
No one should take advantage of who they are 
No man has got it made 
If he thinks he does, he's wrong

[chorus]
Every mother's son better hear what I say 
Every mother's son will rise and fall someday

I've seen it happen so many times, so many times before 
Some man got so much money he doesn't worry no more 
Or he's got such a pretty woman that'll treat him fine 
Well my friend has been a fool 
It happens everytime

[chorus]

I'm not tryin' to preach to no one, to no one at all 
I've seen so many of my good friends just rise to fall 
'Cause they got so much money or a woman so fine 
Well my friends have all been fools, it happens every time

[chorus]

What I say 

[chorus]

What I say 
Oh, every mother's son will rise and fall someday