I remember my grandfather's counsel
As he laid the leather to my hide
He said there's just one rule in life, it 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
As I stood there by my lawyer
The old judge looked me in the eye
He said, "You can't do wrong and get by"
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 lovin' children
But I gave into the pleasures of the night
She used my grand dad's very words to say her last goodbye
You can't do wrong and get by
You can't do wrong and get by for very long
Do wrong and all your troubles multiply
Oh, you may not face them here
But you'll sure face the man on high
You can't do wrong and get by, no, no
You can't do wrong and get by