I remember my grandfather's counsel
As he laid the leather to my hide
He said there's just one rule to life that always will apply
You can't do wrong and get by

Now lessons tend to fade as we grow older
And I found myself in jail at twenty-five
Had to sit there by my lawyer the old judge looked me in the eye
Said you can't do wrong and get b

You can't do wrong and get by for very long
Do wrong and all your troubles multiply
You may not face them here but you'll face the man on high
You can't do wrong and get by

Now once I had a wife and loving children
But I gave into the pleasures of the night
She used my grand dads very words to say her last goodbye
You can't do wrong and get by