when i was a kid about half past three my ma said daughter come here to me said things may come and things may go but this is one thing you ought to know oh t ain t what you do it s the way that you do it t ain t what you do it s the way that you do it t ain t what you do it s the way that you do it that s what gets results t ain t what you do it s the time that you do it t ain t what you do it s the time that you do it t ain t what you do it s the time that you do it that s what gets results you can try hard don t mean a thing take it easy greasy then your jive will swing oh t ain t what you do it s the place that you do it t ain t what you do it s the time that you do it t ain t what you do it s the way that you do it that s what gets results you ve learned your abc s you ve learned your dfg s but this is something you don t learn in school so get your hip boots on and then you ll carry on but remember if you re tryin too hard it don t mean a thing take it easy it s the way that you sing it 