You can't please everybody all the time Can't please everybody all the time Do what the spirit say do Carry on an' leave it behind You can't please everybody all the time You know, the church might praise your work Preacher might call your name "Praise God, brother, you done well!" But another might grin in your face Talk behind your back Ain't nothin' in this world you can do You can't please everybody all the time Can't please everybody all the time Do what the spirit say do Carry on an' leave it behind You can't please everybody all the time One day you got to meet your Maker Look over what you done Nowhere to hide, nowhere to go No matter what some might say here today You got to reap - reap just what you sowed You can't please everybody all the time You can't please everybody all the time Do what the spirit say do Carry on an' leave it behind You can't please everybody all the time No use tryin' to make everybody love you You can't do it! But you can sho 'nuff pray on Forgive your enemies, stay close to family Pray Lord, make me more loving in my heart You can't please everybody all the time Can't please everybody all the time Do what the spirit say do Carry on an' leave it behind You can't please everybody all the time You can't please everybody all the time You can't please everybody all the time