And the nights will flame with fire...

[Introduction: The Laughing Heart]

If you're going to try, go all the way.

Otherwise, don't even start.

If you're going to try, go all the way.

This could mean losing girlfriends,

wives, relatives, jobs 

and maybe your mind.

Go all the way.

It could mean not eating for 3 or 4 days.

It could mean freezing on a park bench.

It could mean jail,

it could mean derision,

mockery,

isolation.

Isolation is the gift,

all the others are a test of your endurance, 

of how much you really want to do it.

and you'll do it

despite rejection and the worst odds

and it will be better than

anything else you can imagine.

If you're going to try,

go all the way.

There is no other feeling like that.

You will be alone with the Gods

and the nights will flame with fire.

Do it, do it, do it, do it.

All the way, all the way.

You will ride life straight to perfect laughter, 

it's the only good fight there is.

Charles Bukowski