never reached perfection, but
Lord I've tried, I've really tried.
Sometimes I'm right and sometimes I'm wrong,
I'm striving to be strong,
and then I'll rise up and sing this song,
I have not lived free from sin,
For I've been free from doubts within
Lord, I've tried, I've really tried, rock,
rock of ages left me, let me hide myself in
Lord, I've tried, yes, I've tried
Well, I've tried, I've really tried
be what you'd have your child to be
I'm almost level to the ground
Lord, I've tried, yes, I've tried
Well, I've tried, I've really tried
to be what you'd have your servant to be
Still I'm striving round by round
I'm striving round by round
I've been walking, and talking,
and preaching, and begging you