Nay, Speak No Ill
From HymnWiki
Original title: 'Speak No Ill'
Contents
Sheet Music
Using the tune 'Kindly Word' as seen in Relief Society Song Book, 1919, no. 75
- MIDI
- LilyPond
- Copyright: public domain
- Source: Relief Society Song Book, 1919, no. 75
- Contributor: Veramet 01:13, 5 October 2010 (MDT)
External Sheet Music Links
Tunes
- Kindly Word, by Unknown Composer, ca. 1891[1]
- Richard Hoffman Andrews who probably lived from 1831 to 1909 arranged a German tune to be paired with this hymn (it may or may not be 'Kindly Word'; verification needed to find out whether or not).
- Tune found in The Musical Fountain, Enlarged, 1867, p. 60–61 (the hymn is titled 'Speak Evil of No One' here)
- Tune by W. B. Bradbury as seen in New York weekly review, Volume 6, 1855
Lyrics
- Poet: Charles Swain[2] (1801–1874), ca. 1845[3]
- Copyright: public domain
External Lyrics
- Lyrics from LDS.org (same as from the 1985 LDS hymnal)
Lyrics from Relief Society Song Book, 1919, no. 75
1. Nay, speak no ill, a kindly word Can never leave a sting behind; And oh, to breathe each tale we’ve heard, Is far beneath a noble mind. Full oft a better seed is sown By choosing thus the kinder plan, For, if but little good is known, Still let us speak the best we can. 2. Give me the heart that fain would hide— Would fain another’s faults efface: How can it please the human pride To prove humanity but base? No, let us reach a higher mood— A nobler estimate of man, Be earnest in the search for good, And speak of all the best we can. 3. Then speak no ill, but lenient be To other’s failings as your own; If you’re the first a fault to see, Be not the first to make it known. For life is but a passing day, No lip may tell how brief its span; Then, O the little time we stay, Let’s speak of all the best we can.
References
- ↑ Deseret Sunday School Song Book, 1894 (probably the 1891 edition, too), p. 66
- ↑ Poems of Charles Swain, 1857, p. 92
- ↑ The Literary gazette and journal of the belles lettres, arts, sciences, &c, 1845, p. 829–830
