What is the curse that makes
The universe so all bewilderin'
What is the hoax that just provokes
The folks they call God's children
What is the jinx that gives a body and his brother
And everyone around the run-around

Necessity, necessity
A most unnecessary thing, necessity

What throws the monkey wrench in
A fella's good intention
That nasty old invention, necessity

My feet want to dance in the sun
My head wants to rest in the shade
The Lord says go out and have fun
But the landlord says, 'Your rent ain't paid'

Necessity, it's plain to see
What a lovely old world
This silly old world can be
But no, it's all in a mess, account of necessity

I'd like to play some tennis or take a trip to Venice
But sister, here's the menace, necessity

Oh, satan's the father of sin and Cupid's the father of love
Oh, hell is the father of gin
But no one know's the father of necessity, necessity
That's the maximum that a minimum thing can be
There's nothing lower than less, unless it's necessity