Let It Pass

1 Be not swift to take offense,
Let it pass, let it pass;
Anger is a foe to sense,
Let it pass, let it pass.
Brood not darkly o'er a wrong,
Which will disappear ere long;
Brood not darkly o'er a wrong,
which will disappear ere long,
Rather sing this cheery song,
Let it pass, let it pass.

2 Strike corrodes the purest mind,
Let it pass, let it pass;
As the unregarded wind,
Let it pass, let it pass.
Any vulgar souls that live,
May condemn without reprieve,
'Tis the noble who forgive,
'Tis the noble who forgive,
Rather sing this cheery song,
Let it pass, let it pass.

3 Echo not an angry word,
Let it pass, let it pass;
Think how often you have erred,
Let it pass, let it pass.
Since our joys must pass away,
Like the dew-drop on the spray;
Wherefore should our sorrows stay,
Wherefore should out sorrows stay;
Rather sing this cheery song,
Let it pass, let it pass.

4 Bid your anger to depart,
Let it pass, let it pass;
Lay those homely words to heart,
Let it pass, let it pass.
Follow not the giddy throng,
Better to be wronged than wrong;
Better to be wronged than wrong,
Therefore sing this cheery song.
Therefore sing this cheery song,
Let it pass, let it pass.

Source: The Little Minstrel: a collection of songs and music, with lessons of instruction, mathematically arranged plan of notation #40