Do You Know What I Would Do?
If you had been born in a distant land,
Far over the deep wide sea;
If you had been born on a foreign strand,
And I, in America free?
If you were I, and I were you,
Do you know what I would do?
If you had been born with a swarthy skin,
And people looked on you with scorn:
While I know nothing is black but sin,
And the soul may be white as the lily at morn;
If I had a chance to uplift you,
Do you know what I would do?
If you were an orphan, and homeless too,
And never had heard of the Lord;
While I had been taught from earliest days
To love and obey His Word;
If you were poor, and ignorant too,
Do you know what I would do?
I would save my pennies and nickels and dimes,
And send them over the sea;
That you might be fed and clothed and taught,
To worship the God who is dear to me;
If you were I, and I were you,
That is just what I would do.
I would tell all the boys and girls around
Just what I was working for, too;
And I’d never give up till I got them to help
To send you the Gospel true;
If you were I, and I were you,
That is just what I would do.