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