Lyrics Necessary Evil - Ella Fitzgerald feat. Louis Armstrong & Dave Barbour and His Orchestra

So I tried hard to be good
And do the things I should
I give up everything that I enjoyed
But if you slip a bit
And your heart says this is it
That's a necessary evil my boy
All my friends say I'm a fool
And I won't break any rules
Why all the saintly virtues I employ
But if the slightest fling
Makes your soul begin to sing
That's a necessary evil, my boy
Well, a man sometime has to sip a drink
Cast his eyes on a lovely shape
Then, sometimes, a wager desires
If a man says he don't
He's not a man, he's a liar
So don't let yourself be sad
If what looks good is bad
Reach out accept the things that bring you joy
And so you feel inclined
It will help to keep in mind
Baby, that's a necessary evil, my boy
For a man sometime has to sip of the grape
Or cast his eye on a lovely shape
And then, sometimes, a wager desire
If a man says he don't
He's not a man, he's a liar
So dont let yourself be sad
If what looks good is bad
I reach out eccept the things that bring me joy
A man has got to live
Even stealers make you give
That's a necessary evil
Absoultely necessary
A necessary evil my boy