From the musical “Honey Girl”, 1920
Words by Neville Fleeson
Music by Albert Von Tilzer
The sheet music:
Accompaniment by Gerd Westendorp:
Lyrics
Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem
And he called this poem “If”
And he said some things
That really are worth while
He told us, when Misfortune
Comes a-knocking at our door
To always meet that lady with a smile
He points the way to Manhood
Tho’ the path is lined with thorns
And he wrote it for a fellow just like me
I seem to hear him saying “Brace up
Don’t loose your nerve
For better days are coming, wait and see”
REFRAIN
So I’m trying, Mister Kipling
Yes, I’m trying mighty hard
To be the man your poem tells me to
I’m looking for the sunshine
That is hiding neath the cloud
I’m hoping that the sky will soon be blue
Though luck is dead against me
And all the world seems wrong
I’m trusting in your teaching
That life is just a song
And I’m trying, oh you don’t know how I’m trying
Just to be the man your poem tells me to