--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Apperley, W. H. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 12 number: 6 published: 1909-04 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Apperley, W. H., "I Can and I Will," *Improvement Era* 12, no. 6 (April 1909): 445.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1206unse start_page: 445 end_page: 445 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1909-04) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1206unse publication_year: 1909 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1909, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # I Can and I Will I CAN AND I WILL. I can and I will is the song of my soul ; I ride on the waves where the dark waters roll. No dangers can daunt me, I welcome the blast; The war-guns are booming, no quarter I ask. My heart is of oak, my ribs are of steel; A strength in the depths of my being I feel, That surges and urges me on in the fight, In the battle of life for the good and the right. I can and I will is the birth-right I claim; My soul is unfettered, this truth I proclaim. 0 join me, my brothers, 0 speak the great word, And break all your shackles, be free as a bird! 1 can and I will my life-work complete, Though briers and thorns grow under my feet. The pathway of roses is not for the brave; The coward may walk it direct to his grave. I can and I will is the cure for blues. 0 try it and prove it, and spread the good news. Let the magical words leap warm from the heart, Then laugh as you see all your sorrows depart. 1 can and I will is the motto of men; Go sing it aloud again and again. The ring of these words new courage will give, I can and I will is a song that will live.. Logan, Utah. W. H. Apperley, D. M.