1. YOU CAN TAKE A MAN FROM THE COUNTRY,
CATTLE FROM BEHIND A PICKET FENCE,
YOU CAN SEND A FOOL TO ALL KINDS OF SCHOOLS,
BUT IT WILL NOT MAKE HIM HAVE A LOT OF SENSE,
YOU CAN PLACE A WOMAN IN A FINE HOME,
AND DRESS HER AS FINE AS YOU CAN,
BUT IF SHE'S A WRONG DOING WOMAN,
SHE JUST GOT TO HAVE ANOTHER MAN,
I'M GOING TO TELL ALL YOU PEOPLE,
YOU WON'T LEARN THIS JIVE IN SCHOOL,
IF YOU BEEN KICKED AROUND LIKE I HAVE,
YOU WON'T HAVE TO ASK - WHO'S THE FOOL;
2. YOU CAN TAKE THE WHALE FROM THE OCEAN,
YOU CAN TAKE THE SHARKS FROM THE SEA,
YOU CAN TAKE MUSK FROM THE BILLY GOAT,
OR THE HONEY FROM THE BEES,
YOU CAN TAKE THE SAME OLD WOMAN,
SHOWER HER DOWN WITH DIAMONDS AND PEARLS,
BUT WHEN YOU GET HER TO LOVE YOU,
BOY, SHE CAN BE A DIFFERENT GIRL,
I'M GONNA TELL ALL YOU PEOPLE,
YOU WON'T LEARN THIS JIVE IN SCHOOL,
IF YOU BE KICKED AROUND LIKE I HAVE,
YOU WON'T HAVE TO ASK WHO'S THE FOOL;