From the recording In My Father's House
Composed by Thomas Andrew Dorsey featuring Sam Kuslan on piano
Lyrics
It Don’t Cost Very Much (1930’s) Thomas Andrew Dorsey
TO SMILE WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY,
TO SMILE WHEN YOU'RE SAD
TO LOOK PLEASING WHEN MISTREATED
TO BE CALM WHEN YOU'RE MAD
OH, BE FORGIVING IF SOMEONE ABUSE YOU
FOR THE GOOD LORD LOOKS FOR SUCH
LIVE RIGHT EACH DAY AND SMILE ON YOUR WAY
IT DON'T COST VERY MUCH
HELP THE CRIPPLE BY THE WAYSIDE
HELP THE BLIND MAN CROSS THE STREET
BE CAREFUL BUT KIND TO STRANGERS
SPEAK POLITELY TO THOSE YOU MEET
OH BE FORGIVING WHEN SOMEONE ABUSES YOU
FOR THE GOOD LORD LOOKS FOR SUCH
AS YOU DO FOR YOURSELF
YOU CAN DO FOR SOMEONE ELSE
IT DON’T COST VERY MUCH
NO IT DON'T COST VERY MUCH
WELL TO PLACE A GENTLE TOUCH
TO GIVE A GLASS OF WATER
TO A PILGRIM IN NEED OF SUCH
WELL YOU MAY NOT BE AN ANGEL
AND YOU MAY NOT GO TO CHURCH
BUT THE GOOD THAT YOU DO
WILL COME BACK TO YOU
IT DON'T COST VERY MUCH