Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Necessary Evil Lyrics

So I tried hard to be good
And do the things I should
I give up everything that I enjoyed

But if u slip abit
And ur heart says this is it
Thats a necessary evil my boy

All my friends say I'm a fool
And I wont 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
And 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

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
Reach out accept the things that bring you joy

A man has got to live
Even stealers make you give
That's a necessary evil
Absoultely necessary
A necessary evil my boy