Careful And Wise

(Traditional)

A song with a strong moral, careful and wise was sung in Merasheen by Bill Fulford.
Sung here by Bill’s son, Raymond (better known as Sam).

You can’t be too careful, you can’t be too wise,
You don’t know when trouble may rise, may rise,
For the best friends you know may turn out your foe,
So, you can’t be too careful and wise.

Once I had land, I had wealth and command,
My money I foolishly spent, I spent,
But now it’s all gone and I’m left all alone,
And now you can see who's my friend.

My friends they don’t know me or friendship they’ll show me,
They’ll treat me with scorn in their eyes, their eyes,
So remember from me, wherever you’ll be,
That you can't be too careful and wise.

You can’t be too careful, you can’t be too wise,
You don’t know when trouble may rise, may rise,
For the best friends you know may turn out your foe,
So, you can’t be too careful and wise.

Now I am old and beginning to fade,
I’m growing older each day, each day,
My back it is bad, my best days are spent,
And my old locks are now turning gray.

You can’t be too careful, you can’t be too wise,
You don’t know when trouble may rise, may rise,
For the best friends you know may turn out your foe,
So, you can’t be too careful and wise.
So, you can’t be too careful and wise.