I recall when I was young My papa said, "Don't cry Life is full of ups and downs Like a roller coaster ride" There'll be times you'll get so scared Rollin' down these hills But you hold on tight with all your might 'Coz you don't know what you feel You go up, down, all around On a cycle that's never endin' You got on this train when you were born And the wheels just a-keep on spinnin' Like a roller coaster, keeps goin' faster 'Coz I'm goin' past ya, thrills comin' at ya Up, down, all around Like a roller coaster I left home at just sixteen Thought I'd have some fun Hitched a ride on a diesel truck Headed for Washington And now I know what my papa meant When he told me heart to heart "Son, you'll find out soon enough Life is just an amusement park" You'll thrill like a kid You'll get so excited You hang on tight with all a-your might As if your heart's ignited Like a roller coaster, it keeps goin' faster 'Coz I'm goin' past ya, thrills comin' at yaa Up, down, all around Like a roller coaster Up, down, all around All around, all around Up, down, all around On a cycle that's never endin' You got on this train when a-you were born And the wheels just keep on spinnin' Like a roller coaster, it keeps goin' faster 'Coz I'm goin' past ya, thrills comin' at ya Up, down, all around Like a roller coaster Like a roller coaster, it keeps goin' faster 'Coz I'm goin' past ya, thrills comin' at ya Like a roller coaster, it keeps goin' faster 'Coz I'm goin' past ya, thrills comin' at ya Yea, up, down, all around Like a roller coaster