I'm going to try to be that way
Once upon a time there lived a man
Many years ago in a foreign land
Knew how to live right, tried to be a light
Gave everybody a helping hand
I'm going to try to be that way
I'm going to try to be that way
Do the kind of things a man oughta do
Say the kind of things a man oughta say
I'm going to try to be that way
He never done anybody wrong
He tried to help everybody along
He brought a better land to make a better man
Out of the rich or the poor
Or the weak or the strong
And he preached love and brotherhood
He went around doing good, doing good
Everywhere he went
They knew that he was sent
And the people started acting
Like they should