|
You Can't Do Wrong/You Can't Go Wrong And Get By
Public Domain/Traditional Old-Time, Bluegrass Gospel; Words and Music Ellis Albert Lethal 1929
NOTE: From Timeless Truths: "As we note on the song, it was written by Lethal Ellis in 1929, according to his grandson Jeffery S. Ellis, who contacted me on December 12, 2004, and stated that it was no longer under copyright."
ARTIST: Jackson Gospel Singers "Can't Do No Wrong" Okeh 1952
CATEGORY: Traditional Bluegrass Gospel;
DATE: 1800s (expression) chorus; 1929 Lethal A. Ellis
RECORDING INFO: Can't Do No Wrong/ Can't Do Wrong And Get By
Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy. Sizemore, Asher; and Little Jimmy / Old Fashioned Hynns and Mountain .., Sizemore, fol (1933), p 7
Stringbean (David Ackerman). Stringbean and His Banjo. A Salute to Uncle Dave Macon, Starday SLP 215, LP (1963), trk# 13
Jackson Gospel Singers. Can't Do No Wrong Okeh 1952
Bright Moon Quartet "You Can't Go Wrong And Get By" Document label
Jackson Gospel Singers
OTHER NAMES: "You Can't Go Wrong And Get By"
SOURCES: WFMU; Jackson Gospel Singers http://www.wfmu.org/playlists/shows/8690
online: library.timelesstruths.org
NOTES: "Can't Do No Wrong" which should be, "You Can't Do Wrong," or "You Can't Do Wrong and Get By" and also "You Can't Go Wrong And Get By" is a gospel song. One version was written by Lethal A. Ellis and copyrighted in 1929. The Ellis version is still copyrighted because of the Sony Bono law however the chorus (which is and expression much older) and the chorus lyrics are in my opinion public domain. Smith Sacred Singers recorded "You Can't Do Wrong and Get By" in 1929 and later for Bluebird in 1934 putting into question the copyright.
The song was reworked by a number of African-American quartets and the Bright Moon Quartet version can be heard on the Document label. The Jackson Gosel Singers version is loosley based on Lethal A. Ellis lyrics but the melody and arrnagement are completely different. The title "Can't Do No Wrong" is possibly different to avoid copyright problems since the lyrics only "You Can't Do Wrong."
The Delmores wrote a version using the chorus line which is a different song:
You Can’t Go Wrong And Get By- Delmore Brothers
Oh you can't do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
So just do what you please and try to feel at ease
For you can't do wrong and get by
No hypocrite can do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
Salvation you say you've got but God knows you've not
So you can't do wrong and get by
No liar can do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
For when you have to die you can't tell a single lie
And you can't do wrong and get by
No drunkard can do wrong and get by
No matter how hard you may try
When you get so many drinks you may get by you think
But you can't do wrong and get by
You Can't Do Wrong and Get By- Lethal A. Ellis, 1929
There’s a God who’s standing at heaven’s door,
He’s looking this universe o’er;
And He sees each mortal with a searching eye,
You can’t do wrong and get by.
Refrain:
You can’t do wrong and get by,
No matter how much you may try;
Nothing hidden can be, everything He doth see,
You can’t do wrong and get by.
Out into the darkness you alone may go,
And seeds for the wicked one sow;
There’s an eye that’s watching from the throne on high,
You can’t do wrong and get by.
Yes, He knows yours secrets, everything you do,
He knows that your life is untrue;
You can ne’er deceive Him, there’s no use to try,
You can’t do wrong and get by.
Can't Do No Wrong-Jackson Gospel Singers 1952
There's a God who is standing at heaven's door
He is looking this universe o’er,
And he sees each mortal with a searching eye
You know you can't, can't do wrong and get by.
CHORUS: Oh no you can't,(can't do wrong)
Can't do wrong,(can't do wrong)
And get by,(can't do wrong)
Oh yes (can't do wrong)
Oh no matter, (can't do wrong)
No matter (can't do wrong)
How you try (can't do wrong)
Oh yes,(can't do wrong)
Trusting Him (can't do wrong)
Can't be easy (can't do wrong)
Everything (can't do wrong)
My God sees (can't do wrong)
That's why you can't (can't do wrong)
Do wrong,(can't do wrong)
And get by (can't do wrong and get by)
Repeat CHORUS
|