VERSE #1I have never reached perfection,
 But I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 I've sometimes lost connection,
 But I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 Sometimes right, sometimes wrong;
 Always hoping, to be strong.
 I now rise and sing this song,
 Lord I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 
 VERSE #2
 Lord I have not, lived free from sin,
 But I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 Nor have I been free from doubts within,
 But I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 Rock of ages, clef for me; let me hide myself in thee.
 While in the tempest, on life's sea,
 Lord I tried... (Lord I tried.)
 
 CHORUS
 Lord I've tried... (Lord I've tried!)
 Lord I've tried... (Lord I've tried!)
 Lord I've tried... (Lord I've tried!)
 Lord I really tried... (Lord I've tried!)
 I tried to be... (I tried to be...)
 Just what you'd have... (Just what you'd have...)
 Just what you'd have... (Just what you'd have me to be...)
 I'm Sometimes up... (Some times up...)
 I'm Sometimes down... (Some times down...)
 Almost level... (Almost level...)
 To the ground... (To the ground...)
 Still I'm climbing, round by round;
 Lord I really tried... (Lord I tried!!!)