Nobody Had To Lose

Two men stood on opposite sides Both believing there was only one prize One held tight, one wouldn't give Like taking was the only way to live Then somebody moved, made a little room And what looked like a fight found another tune Both walked home with their heads held high Funny how nobody had to say goodbye We learned so young there's first and last Hold what you can and hold it fast But maybe there's another way Where what I gain ain't what you pay [Chorus] Nobody had to lose for somebody else to win There was room enough for both of us To let a little light come in You don't have to take from another man's hand Just to know you've got enough where you stand Sometimes the best victory Leaves nobody on their knees Nobody had to lose For somebody else to win A stranger stumbled, missed his way Made one bad choice on one bad day You could push him down and call it fair Or leave a little mercy waiting there Give him a road he never knew A chance to make tomorrow something new And maybe someday farther down that line He'll reach for somebody else's hand in time 'Cause every wrong don't need a scar To teach us who we really are Sometimes the strongest thing you do Is leave a door for someone to walk through Nobody had to lose for somebody else to win There was room enough for both of us To let a little light come in You don't have to take from another man's hand Just to know you've got enough where you stand Sometimes the best victory Leaves nobody on their knees Nobody had to lose For somebody else to win There's enough hurt making rounds Without us adding more to what we've found Enough voices saying, "Choose your side" As if kindness needs a place to hide But I can rise and let you rise Your good fortune doesn't shrink my skies And if we both leave stronger than before Tell me what we'd need a loser for Maybe winning isn't standing Where somebody else once fell Maybe strength ain't measured By the stories scars can tell If I can keep what matters And still help you begin Maybe that's the kind of world Where everybody wins No throne built from somebody's sorrow No feast that leaves another man hollow No brighter light because yours went dim That's never been the only way to win Nobody has to lose for somebody else to win There's room enough for all of us To let a little light come in You don't have to take from another man's hand Just to know you've got enough where you stand And maybe the sweetest victory Leaves everybody on their feet Nobody has to lose For somebody else to win Let him keep his dignity Let her keep her hope Leave a little room beside you There's enough road for us both Nobody has to lose... Nobody has to lose... For somebody else to win.