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