I Came Here to Stay

Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay
Now when I fall down I'm gonna try to get up
Because I didn’t start out to play
It's a battlefield, brother, not a recreation room
It's a fight and not a game
Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay

Now the champion he marched for 40 days
Crying "Send me a man to fight"
But the Israelite said ’I've got a great heart
But my feet are full of fright"
Then a boy with a sling and a pocket full of rocks
He had to trust and pray
Said, "If you gonna run, Goliath, you better go now
I came here to stay"

Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay
Now when I fall down I'm gonna try to get up
Because I didn't start out to play
It's a battlefield, brother, not a recreation room
It's a fight and not a game
Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay

Now the decree had been signed by the hand of the king
Daniel couldn't talk to his Lord
Hungry lions were pacing him in
Here comes supper again
But if you'da been around anywhere close
You’da heard brother Daniel say
"If you’re talking about me, you can forget it, boys
I came here to stay"

Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay
Now when I fall down I'm gonna try to get up
Because I didn’t start out to play
It's a battlefield, brother, not a recreation room
It's a fight and not a game
Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay

Now the boys wouldn't bow and the king got mad
He said, "Turn that furnace up high
Tie them up, let’s throw them in
These Hebrew boys are gonna fry"
But a little while later he looked in the furnace
And he heard brother Shadrach say
"Pull up your chair, boys, and warm your hands
'We came here to stay"

Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay
Now when I fall down I'm gonna try to get up
Because I didn't start out to play
It's a battlefield, brother, not a recreation room
It's a fight and not a game
Run if you want to, run if you will
But I came here to stay

Said run if you want to, run if you will
I came here to stay