An insolent speck of youth
 Being taken for a walk
 So tightly by the ear
 That he can hardly talk

 Yesterday's men hang to today
 To sing in the old-fashioned way
 It must get better in the long run
 Has to get better in the long run

 A metropolitan marathon
 Has been held today
 But who you need to catch
 Will be coming the other way

 Yesterday's men hang to today
 To sing in any old way
 It must get better in the long run
 Has to get better in the long run

 Because when you're told to start
 How far can you go
 When your race is won
 And you already know
 Because when you're told to stop
 How far will you go
 When your race is run
 And you already know

 Yesterday's men hang to today,
 To sing in any old way,
 It must get better in the long run
 Has to get better in the long run
 Will it get better in the long run
 Will we be here in the long run

 Yesterday's men hang to today,
 To sing in any old way,
 It must get better in the long run
 Has to get better in the long run
 Will it get better in the long run
 Will we be here in the long run

 Do, do, do, hang on in the long run.