Michael McDonald/Carol Bayer Sager
Oh, I hand them this life
To do what they will
They've got to find their way from here
Oh, show us the way
If they only knew
Oh, show us the light
Show them what light?
It shines from within
You make your own day
You make your own night
And sometimes you win
Oh, show us the way
But you always get through
Oh, show us the light
Oh, why do they come and ask for more?
They've got stars they don't have wishes for
They're just givin' up their blame to me
How do the fools survive?
I'm wonderin' why, I'm wonderin' how
They're gonna bail themselves out now
Oh, give us this day
I'm shakin' my head
Oh, keep us through night
Oh, I hand them this life
To do what they will
They've got to find their way from here
Oh, show us the way
If they only knew
Oh, show us the light
Oh, why do they come and ask for more?
They've got stars they don't have wishes for
They're just givin' up their blame to me
How do the fools survive?
It's not like it was before
When they call I won't come running
It was so long ago
I left them on their own
Oh, how do the fools survive?
I think the song was written about Donald Fagan and Walter Becker relative to his time with Steely Dan.