You can't see the forest for the branches You can't see the ocean from the bottom of the wave You can't see the glory from the trenches You can't see tomorrow from today I can't tell the hour from the minute I can't tell the weekend from the middle of the week It's sure hard to see it when you're way down in it It's sure hard to beat it when it makes you feel a little weak It's hard to see the surface from the bottom It's hard to know your purpose ain't it true Some folks say to smoke 'em if you got 'em Dammit if you don't, damned if you do I always try to see the thistle for the flower I try to see the shower as a break from the heat I try to whistle straight through the sour Yeah, the pill tastes bitter but I'll tell you that it tastes sweet It's hard to see the surface from the bottom It's hard to know your purpose ain't it true Some folks say to smoke 'em if you got 'em Dammit if you don't, damned if you do It's hard to keep a secret, but not to tell a lie It's hard to believe it when you're barely getting by It's hard to know the answer when the question's never said It's hard to be a dancer baby, when you're living in your head Now you can't see the future and you can't keep the past All the winners are just lucky losers, baby, yeah, nothing ever lasts It's hard to see the surface from the bottom It's hard to know your purpose ain't it true Some folks say to smoke 'em if you got 'em Dammit if you don't, damned if you do It's hard to see the surface from the bottom It's hard to know your purpose ain't it true Some folks say to smoke 'em if you got 'em Dammit if you don't, damned if you do Damned if you do