The lyrics below are from the sheet music at Johns Hopkins University (Levy Collection). You can hear a recording by Bert Williams at The Internet Archive; he sings verses and choruses 1 and 3.


LET IT ALONE
Words by Alex Rogers. Music by Bert A. Williams.
New York: The Gotham-Attucks Music Company, Inc., ©1906.

1. In goin' through this pig-iron world, it's sometimes asked of you
To give advice at certain times and tell folks what to do.
Now at these times, I'm goin' to tell you what's the wisest plan:
When it comes to mixin' in wid things you don't jes' understan'—

CHORUS 1: Let it alone; let it alone.
If it don't concern you, let it alone.
Don't go four-flushin', an' puttin' on airs,
And dippin' into other folks' affairs.
If you don't know, say so!
Mind your own bus'ness and let it alone.

2. Suppose that luck's against you, and while on your weary way,
Along some side street you should see a drunken man, we'll say.
He's layin' in the gutter; you can see that he's all in,
An' on his bosom calmly gleams a great big diamond pin.

CHORUS 2: Let it alone; let it alone.
It ain't your'n, pally, so let it alone.
The man is drunk, that may be true,
But the diamond don't belong to you,
So shut your eyes and heave some sighs,
Turn 'round an' beat it, and let it alone.

EXTRA VERSES:

3. If you see two people fussin', well, a man an' woman, say,
You think it is a shame for them to carry on that way.
You think, well, I should stop that row, and just as you draw nigh,
The lady swats the gem'man wid a poker 'cross his eye.

CHORUS 3: Let it alone; let it alone.
You don't know the people, so let it alone.
They know their bus'ness right, alright.
They practice dat way ev'ry night.
You go butt in, they'll break yo' chin.
Go blind for a minute an' let it alone.

4. Have you ever met a man who from his proud important air,
Might be a politician or a multi-millionaire
If he shoud up to you and say, "Kind sir, if you will,
Would you oblige me, please, and change a twenty-dollar bill?"

CHORUS 4: Let it alone; let it alone.
Get awful busy and let it alone.
The man's got money, furs; dat goes.
He's got them bills all through his clothes,
But if you value coin, you'll keep on goin'.
Keep yo' hand on your pocket-book an' let it alone.

5. Now if some afternoon you go to see a grand ball game,
You don't know much about baseball, both team look jes' the same.
There's twenty thousand people all for one side, so it seems.
You know 'tain't fair; you think you'll yell and help the other team.

CHORUS 5: Let it alone; let it alone.
The other side's plain the team what's home.
This is the game that tells the tale:
The pennant's lost if the home team fails.
You go an' yell an' there'll be—well,
You better keep quiet an' let it alone.

6. In stoppin' 'round 'mongst strangers, you should very keerful be,
An' don't let ev'rything arouse yo' curiosity,
'Cause all dat shines ain't golden, and so if you should spy
A bottle wid a label, readin': "Bes' Kentucky Rye,"

CHORUS 6: let it alone; let it alone.
Hame some sense an' let it alone.
The label says: "Kentucky Rye,"
But labels they can falsify.
If it's pizen you swaller, it's too late to holler.
What's in you is in you, so let it alone.

7. Suppose you knows some frien's who owns a fine big dog, we'll say,
An' you should go to visit them some lovely summer's day,
The dog is layin' peacefully upon the front door mat,
You say: "My! What a specimen!" an' start his head to pat.

CHORUS 7: Let it alone; let it alone.
The dog looks fine; that may be true,
But he ain't been introduced to you,
So don't be mean and spoil his dream.
Admire the flowers an' let it alone.

8. If you happen to get lucky and around the world should go,
And you stop in "Abyssinia" for about a month or so,
You see while in the market a girl with a pretty face,
Who wants to sell to you a great big ham-shaped phoney vase.

CHORUS 8: Let it alone; let it alone.
I know all 'bout it, so let it alone.
It's fine showin' off in a foreign lan'
But 'tain't so fine to have to lose yo' han',
The very next place I see a bum vase,
You can bet I'll—let it alone.