Necessary Evil Songtext
von Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald

Louis, you′re troubled
What's your problem Daddy?
I don′t know
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 (I'm hip, I′m hip)
Cast his eyes on a lovely shape (ah, you old rascal)
Then sometime a wager desires
If a man says he don't, he′s not a man, he's a liar (yes, yeah)


So don′t let yourself be sad
If what looks good is bad (ah, ha)
Reach out, accept the things that bring you joy
(I will, so help me, I will)
And so you feel inclined, it will help to keep in mind
I know, baby, that's a necessary evil (my boy)

For a man sometime has to sip of the grape
(A man drinks you know)
Or cast his eye on a lovely shape (and a man flirts)
And then sometime a wager desire (a man bets)
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
I′ll reach out and accept the things that bring you joy

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