People Will Talk

Yes, people will talk; the saying is true;

They will talk about me, they will talk about you.

If we go to the opera, some one will say

We should go to the church and learn how to pray.

If we go to the church and offer up prayers,

They say we are hypocrites and putting on airs.

If we are rich they call us a thief,

Scoff at our sorrows, and laugh at our grief.

If we are poor, they say that we shirk—

We always were lazy, and never would work.

They talk of our prospects, they talk of our past,

And if we are happy, they say it can’t last.

They talk of our loved ones, they talk of our foes,

They talk of our follies, they talk of our woes.

They talk of our joys, they talk of our fears,

They talk of our smiles, they talk of our tears.

They talk if we’re single, they talk if we’re wed,

They talk of us living, they talk of us dead.

Though we live like an angel with circumspect walk,

Our efforts are useless; for people will talk

Calhoun T[cut off]