Drop a pebble in the water: just a splash,
and it is gone; But there's half-a-hundred
ripples circling on and on and on, Spreading,
spreading from the center, flowing on out to
the sea. And there is no way of telling where
the end is going to be.
Drop a pebble in the water: in a minute you
forget, But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet, And those
little waves a-flowing to a great big wave
have grown; You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute
it is gone; But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on. They keep spreading,
spreading, spreading from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you've
started them to flow.
Drop an unkind word, or careless: in a minute
you forget; But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet, And perhaps in
some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy ere you dropped
that unkind word.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: just a flash
and it is gone; But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on, Bearing hope and joy and
comfort on each splashing, dashing wave Till you
wouldn't believe the volume of the one kind word you gave.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness: in a minute
you forget; But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet, And you've rolled a
wave of comfort whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water just by dropping one
kind word.
