Conference speakers urged us to be financially wise, to distinguish between wants and needs, to free ourselves from economic bondage. This morning Keepa jumps aboard that bandwagon with a Primary song from the depths of the Great Depression, 1934.

Incidentally, Beatrice F. Stevens, the author and composer, is the same woman who recalled her childhood experiences with raising silkworms in an earlier post.

When you wake up in the morning, and the sun is shining bright,
Have a strong determination the day will go just right;
There are many things that you can do, That bring success to me and you,
And if you’re prudent, very wise … You’ll economise.

Be thrifty, do your best while you may,
Just listen while we tell you the way:
Most of all that you take in,
Put safely in the bin, saving for a rainy day;
Watch the bees busy making honey,
Work along and when you make your money,
We give you this advice: Look at ev’ry dollar twice
And you’ll be happy when you’re fifty, if you’re thrifty.

If someone says he is hoping That when he is growing old,
He won’t be among the needy, Have silver and have gold,
Ev’ry one of us will sympathize, But don’t neglect to realise
That work and saving, nothing more, Keeps hunger from your door.

Be thrifty, do your best while you may,
Just listen while we tell you the way:
Most of all that you take in,
Put safely in the bin, saving for a rainy day;
Watch the bees busy making honey,
Work along and when you make your money,
We give you this advice: Look at ev’ry dollar twice
And you’ll be happy when you’re fifty, if you’re thrifty.

So … is this going to replace “Book of Mormon Stories” as a favorite anytime soon?

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