I'm gonna 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 gonna try to be that way

I'm gonna 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 gonna try to be that way

He never done anybody wrong

He tried to help everybody 'long

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 doin' good, doin' good

Everywhere he went

They knew that he was sent

And the people started actin' like they should