Half Minute Songs

Song Cycle by Carrie Jacobs-Bond (1861 - 1946)

1. Making the Best of It
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
 What you can't help, what you can't help, what you can't help, forget!

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2. First Ask Yourself
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Before you have said it about them,
Ask yourself if you'd like them to know you said it.

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3. To Understand
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
To understand a sorrow, 
You must have one all your own.

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4. Doan' Yo' Lis'n
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
No mattah w'at dey said,
Keep a-walkin' straight ahead.
W'y, dey'll praise yo' when yo' daid,
But doan' yo' lis'n.

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5. How to Find Success
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The man who finds success,
looks sometimes when he's tired,
when he's tired, when he's tired,
looks sometimes when he's tired.

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6. The Pleasure of Giving
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
I'd rather say "You're welcome" once
Than "Thank you" a thousand times.

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Available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):

  • SPA Spanish (Español) (Poom Andrew Pipatjarasgit) , "El placer de la generosidad", copyright © 2019, (re)printed on this website with kind permission

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]

7. Answer the First Rap
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Opportunity may knock often,
But it's better to answer the first rap!

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8. A Good Exercise
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
With evil things you'll always find
It's best to be deaf, dumb and blind.

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9. A Present from Yourself
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
A friend is a present you give yourself.

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10. Now and Then
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
The "lucky" fellow gets up at five (AM),
and gen'rally works till ten (PM);
But the other fellow, not quite so "lucky",
Works hard - just now and then!

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11. When They Say the Unkind Things
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Ain't it gay - that what they say -
Can't hurt you - unless it's true?

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12. Keep Awake
 (Sung text)

Language: English 
Success never comes to the sleeping!

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Total word count: 177