From the Library of Congress
America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets

PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE
H. De Marsan, Publisher, 60 Chatham Street, N. Y. [n. d.]

No. 1.

I've travell'd about a bit in my time,
And of troubles I've seen a few,
But found it better, in ev'ry clime,
To paddle my own canoe.
My wants are small, I care not at all
If my debts are paid when due;
I drive away strife, in the ocean of life,
While I paddle my own canoe.

CHORUS: Then love your neighbour as yourself,
As the world you go travelling through,
And never sit down, with a tear or a frown,
But paddle your own canoe.

I have no wife to bother my life,
No lover to prove untrue;
But the whole day long, with a laugh and a song.
I paddle my own canoe.
I rise with the lark, and, from daylight till dark,
I do what I have to do.
I'm careless of wealth, if I've only the health
To paddle my own canoe. CHORUS

It's all very well to depend on a friend,
That is: if you've prov'd him true;
But you'll find it better, by far in the end,
To paddle your own canoe.
To BORROW is dearer, by far, than to BUY:
A maxim, tho' old, still true;
You never will sigh, if you only will try
To paddle your own canoe. CHORUS

If a hurricane rise, in the mid-day skies,
And the Sun is lost to view,
Move steadily by, with a steadfast eye,
And paddle your own canoe.
The daisies that grow in the bright green fields,
Are blooming so sweet for you:
So, never sit down, with a tear or a frown,
But paddle your own canoe. CHORUS

No. 2.

Never give up, when trials come,
Never grow sad and blue;
Never sit down, with a tear and a frown,
But paddle your own canoe.

CHORUS: Paddle your own canoe,
Paddle your own canoe,
Never sit down, with a tear and a frown,
But paddle your own canoe.

There are daisies springing along the shore,
Sweet and blooming for you;
There are rose-hued dyes in the Autumn skies:
Then paddle your own canoe. CHORUS

Up this world, and down this world,
Over this world and through,
When drifted about and tossed without,
Why, paddle your own canoe. CHORUS

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