Put my trust in a long time friend;
Said he'd be there 'til the end.
But when the goin' got tough;
When the goin got tough;
Well my friend just slipped away,
When the goin' got tough.

Thought I'd make it by myself,
Didn't need nobody else.
But when the goin' got tough;
When the goin' got tough;
I couldn't help myself,
When the goin' got tough.

When I didn't know what to do;
When I didn't know what to say;
When I didn't think I could make it,
One more endless day.
Well, you came into my life
And your love was more than enough.
Oh, you saved me,
When the goin' got tough

Thought I'd take the money and run.
Thought that I could buy me some fun.
But when the goin' got tough;
When the goin' got tough.
I couldn't buy myself a smile,
When the goin' got tough.