Well the deacon's sittin' in the deacon's chair
Drinkin' all the whiskey and beer
And if you get aft' the deacon about it
Well, the deacon tell you he don't care
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
We got some men in this world
They claim to be your friends
They'll go with you, laughin' and grinnin'
Try to take your wife right then
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
Deacon's law, you got to quit
When you get to Heaven, you got to know where to sit
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
Well, you watch that old man, you watch him today
Done throwed his stick and his crutches away
Tellin' you young men what to do
And he's after young women just as well as you
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
You hear that preacher preachin'?
Teach me to preach mighty sweet
'Cause the reason he don't b'lieve in holiness
He wanta call every woman he meet
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
Well, the preacher will come to your house
He'll come with a snicker and a grin
"I just want to know, Sister
How long 'fore your man comin' in?"
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
I sits one down by my fire
Thought I was treatin' I'm fine
But when I turned my head around
That preacher drank up my wine
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame
Preacher will come to your house
He oughta come there to preach
But when you come to find out
He came there to eat
You invite him in your dining room
You try to treat him swell
You sit him right down to your dining room table
He'll give your chickens hell
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Do you call that religion? No, no
Just-a scandalous and a shame