American Old Time Song Lyrics: 06 We Reap What We Sow

Theater, Music-Hall, Nostalgic, Irish & Historic Old Songs, Volume 6

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.
Recited by Thos. H. Winnett.

For pleasure or pain, for weal or for woe,
'Tis the law of our being, we reap what we sow;
We may try to evade them-may do what we will-
But our acts, like our shadows, will follow us still.
The world is a wonderful chemist, be sure,
And detects in a moment the base or the pure;
We may boast of our claims to genius or birth,
But the world takes a man for just what he's worth.

We start in the race for fortune or fame,
And then when we fail the world bears the blame;
But nine times in ten 'tis plain to be seen
There's a "screw somewhere loose" in the human machine.
Are you wearied and woru in this hard earthly strife?
Do you yearn for affection to sweeten your life?
Remember this great truth had often been proved,
We must make ourselves lovable would we be loved.

Though life may appear as a desolate track,
Yet the bread that we cast on the waters come back;
This law was enacted by heaven above,
That like attracts like, and love begets love.
We are proud of our mansions of mortar and stone,
In our gardens are flowers of every zone;
But the beautiful graces that blossom within
Grow shriveled and die in the upas of sin!

We make ourselves heroes and martyrs for gold,
'Till health becomes broken, and youth become!* old;
Oh! did we the same for beautiful love
Our lives might be music for angels above.
We reap what we sow-oh, wonderful truth !
A truth hard to learn in the days of our youth;
But it shines out as fast as the " hand on the wall;"
For the world has its debt and credit for all.