Have Courage My Boy to Say No

DESCRIPTION: Singer exhorts his son, leaving home, to take a righteous path, despite temptation: he should shun "bright ruby wine," for "poison it stings like a viper," as well as "vile gambling dens," rather trusting in God. Refrain: "Have courage, my boy, to say no"
AUTHOR: Words: Ira D. Sankey and H. R. Palmer / Tune: H. R. Palmer (source: Sankey and Moody, Sacred Songs)
EARLIEST DATE: 1887 (copyright, according to Sacred Songs)
KEYWORDS: virtue warning gambling drink wine nonballad religious
FOUND IN: US(MA,Ro,SE)
REFERENCES (3 citations):
Cheney-MormonSongs, pp. 148-150, "Have Courage, My Boy, To Say No!" (1 text, 1 tune)
Newman/Devlin-NeverWithoutASong, p. 238, "Have Courage, My Boy, to Say 'No'" (1 text)
DT, SAYNO
Roud #5263
RECORDINGS:
Dixon Bros. "Have Courage To Only Say No" (Bluebird B-7767, 1938; on Dixon04)
L. M. Hilton, "Have Courage My Boy to Say No" (on Hilton01)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean" (tune as sung by Jennie Devlin)
NOTES [26 words]: Even Cheney, a Mormon, comments on the "offensive didacticism" of this song. I agree with the message, but it really could have been presented better! - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: RcHCMBSN

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