"Doan' Yo' Lis'n" (1908)
Words and Music
by
Carrie Jacobs-Bond [1861-1946]

Published at
The Bond Shop
by
Carrie Jacobs-Bond & Son
incorporated
746 So. Michigan Ave.
Chicago [Illinois, USA]

The Frederick Harris Co.
Authorized Agents for the British Empire
40 Queen Street East,     59 Newman Street West,
Toronto, Canada             London, England

Engraver/Lithographer: Raymer Dalhelm Co., Chicago
[Source: 1078@Univ.ofOregon]

1. W’en folks come round to tell ye
All de mean t’tings dat dey heay,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n;
What diff’ence does it make to dem?
Dey nevah dry yo’ teah,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n.
If yo’ hab a fren’ or two,
Bless yo’ soul! w’y dat ’ll do,
’Cos yo’ ony need a few,
So doan’ yo’ lis’n.

2. Yo’ nevah git no hittin’
Till yo’ haid’s above de line,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n;
Yo’ heah ye foes a’ talkin’, yo’
kin know yo’s doin’ fine,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n.
But no mattah w’at dey said,
Keep a walkin’ staight ahaid,
W’y, dey’ll praise yo’ when yo’ daid,
But doan’ yo’ lis’n.

3. Dis werl’s so full ob evryt’ing
Dat’s heah’ to make yo’ glad,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n;
Der’s foh’ty kin’s ob goodness wher’
der’s twenty kin’s ob bad,
O mah deah chile, doan’ yo’ lis’n.
If de road was paved wid stone,
An’ yo’ tho’t yo’ walked alone,
Der’s de Lo’d— yo am His own,
So doan’ yo’ lis’n.