Bruddah Dahky, ef yo’d win,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Mussen’ stop fo’ knocks on shin,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Stop yo’ whinin’, try an’ try,
Take no time to weep an’ sigh.
Dah’s whahin’ yo’ success lie.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Yo’ mus’ fus’ prove yo’s er man.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Try’n to ’skewt sum noble plan,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Oh, de white fo’ks knows yo’s brave,
Fo’ dis freedom lan’ to save,
Dat yo’ fit on lan’ an’ wave.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
All de white fo’ks hain’t yo’ foe.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Dey will gibb yo’ plenty, sho’.
Ef yo’ he’p yo’se’f.
All er long dey’s bin mos’ kine,
He’p’d yo’ ’long er many line,
Is to all dis yo’ stone bline?
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Dah’s Abe Linkum, Phillips, too,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Bet yo’ life dey fit fo’ yo’.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Thousands mo’ dat I kood name,
’Mong dem, men o’ nashnul fame,
Fo’ yo’ dahky dun de same.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Sum de white fo’ks moighty mean,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Likewise sum de brack fo’ks seem
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Ebbry race got p’culiar way,
Guess it all goes in de play;
Live in hopes dey’ll change sum day.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Yo’ kin shout an’ yo’ kin sing.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Think yo’s ’neef de mahstah’s wing.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
But yo’ll nebah git er crown
Ef yo’ sot an’ fool eroun’,
Dis am Gospul true an’ soun’.
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Dahky, stop dat little song—
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
Gimme Jesus, take worl’ ’long,
Larn to he’p yo’se’f.
T ry to grip sum o’ dis lan’,
Den yo’ll feel mo’ lak er man;
Yo’ am boun’ to git sum san’,
Ef yo’ he’p yo’se’f.
