Uploaded August 2018 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago

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Peggy Lee performing "Why Don't You Do Right?" with husband Dave Barbour for an early music video in 1950

Peggy listened to Lil Green’s recording of “Why Don’t You Do Right?” again and again. “You must really like that. Would you like to sing it?" Benny Goodman asked her, ”I’ll have an arrangement made.” And he did. “I don’t know how many millions it has sold, but Benny does,” Peggy jokingly shared years later.

Lyrics:
You had plenty money, 1922
You let other women make a fool of you
Why don't you do right?
Like some other men do
Get outta here and get me some money, too

You're sittin' down wonderin' what it's all about
You ain't got no money, they will put you out
Why don't you do right?
Like some other men do
Get outta here and get me some money, too

[Dave Barbour guitar solo]

If you had prepared twenty years ago
You wouldn't be wanderin' now from door to door
Why don't you do right?
Like some other men do
Get outta here and get me some money, too

I fell for your jivin' and I took you in
Now all you've got to offer me is a drink of gin
Why don't you do right?
Like some other men do
Get outta here and get me some money, too
Why don't you do right?
Like some other men do
Like some other men do

Copyright Peggy Lee Associates, LLC.