by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906)
What's the use?
Language: English
What's the use o' folks a-frownin' When the way's a little rough? Frowns lay out the road fur smilin' You'll be wrinkled soon enough. What's the use? What's the use o' folks a-sighin'? It's an awful waste o' breath, An' a body can't stand wastin' What he needs so bad in death. What's the use? What's the use o' even weepin'? Might as well go long an' smile. Life, out longest, strongest arrow, Only lasts a little while. What's the use?
Text Authorship:
- by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872 - 1906), "What's the use?" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gary Bachlund (b. 1947), "What's the use?", 2009 [ high voice and piano ] [sung text checked 1 time]
- by Florence Bea Price (1887 - 1953), "What's the use?", 1937 [sung text checked 1 time]
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-03-07
Line count: 15
Word count: 81