IT'S NOT THE MILES WE TRAVEL, BUT THE PACE THAT KILLS
Written and Sung by Mr Harry Clifton. [1868]
Composed by J. Holbrook Junr.
Tempo: Moderato.
As we jog along the "Road
Of Life" we pass a load,
Of discontented mortals who have gone too fast;
Forfeiting their health,
In the modern race for wealth
Until completely beaten they break down at last,
But others slow and sure,
The journey can endure,
Although the road is rugged with its dales and hills,
They ought to bear in mind,
In life they'll always find,
It's not the miles we travel, but the pace that kills.
Chorus.
Remember what I say,
If you wish to pay your way,
And no be troubled day and night with duns and bills,
Don't travel on too fast,
Or you may break down at last,
For it's not the miles we travel, but the pace that kills.
2
I'll tell you in my song,
How it is I get along,
So easily, and merrily, on life's highway,
For riches I ne'er fret,
And I don't run into debt,
So I never find it dificult my bills to pay;
I never rail at fate,
I envy not the great,
Employment keeps me healthy, and good temper keeps me gay.
I know that labour's sweet,
So I earn before I eat,
And that's the way to travel boys, on life's highway.
3
If fortune won't be kind,
At first why never mind,
Keep boldly trudging on but not too fast,
Take both good and bad,
As it comes, and don't be sad,
If you only persevere you'll reach the goal at last;
And if your fare is coarse,
Think it might have been much worse,
So travel on contented and don't despise,
The man that's slow and steady,
Always watching, always ready,
Is the man to win the "Race for Wealth" and gain the prize.
Source: Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew, London, 1868. H&C 1542
From scans provided by Steve Gardham.
Notes from Steve Gardham:Cover details
IT'S NOT THE MILES WE TRAVEL, BUT THE PACE THAT KILLS,
Composed by
J. HOLBROOK JUNr.
Written and Sung by
HARRY CLIFTON,
WITH THE GREATEST SUCCESS AT HIS POPULAR CONCERTS.
London: HOPWOOD & CREW, 42, New Bond St.
OFFICE OF "BOND STREET", MUSICAL MONTHLY MAGAZINE.
NEW & POPULAR SONGS, BALLADS & DANCE MUSIC, PR. ONE SHILLING.
Colour Litho by Maguire with HC in typical full shot pose, besuited, hands on hips and topper in rt hand.
Serial Number H & C 1542
Sminky/Era dating 1868
ABC transcription of the melody:
X:1
T:It's Not the Miles We Travel, But the Pace That Kills
C:Music by J. Holbrook jun. Lyrics by Harry Clifton.
S:Sheet music published by Hopwood and Crew, London, 1868. H&C 1542
%%MIDI program 1 60
M:C
L:1/8
Q:1/4=120
K:Bb
%
% Verse
F> E | D> E F> D G3 G | A> B c> A B3 B |
w: As we jog a-long the "Road Of Life" we pass a load, Of
G> G d> c B> A B> G | c2 F2 F2 z2 |
w: dis-con-tent-ed mor-tals who have gone too fast;
D> E F> D G2 G> G | A> B c> F d3 F |
w: For-feit-ing their health, In the mod-ern race for wealth Un-
G> A B> G A> e (d>c) | d2 B> B B3 d |
w: til com-plete-ly beat-en they_ break down at last, But
c> B A G F3 d | c> B A G F3 d |
w: oth-ers slow and sure, The jour-ney can en-dure, Al-
c> d c> B A> B A> G | F2 F2 F3 E |
w: though the road is rug-ged with its dales and hills, They
D> E F> D G3 G | A> B c> A d3 F |
w: ought to bear in mind, In life they'll al-ways find, It's
G> A B> G A> e d> c | d2 B2 B2 ||
w: not the miles we tra-vel, but the pace that kills.
%
% Chorus.
|: "^Chorus." (F>E) | D> E F> D G2 G> G | A> B c> A B3 B |
w: Re-_mem-ber what I say, If you wish to pay your way, And
G> G d> c B> A B> G | c2 F2 F3 E |
w: not be trou-bled day and night with duns and bills, Don't
D> E F> D G2 G> G | A> B c F d2 F> F |
w: tra-vel on too fast, Or you may break down at last, For it's
G> A B> G A> e d> c | d2 B2 B2 :|
w: not the miles we tra-vel, but the pace that kills.
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