You've got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene (To illustrate his last remark Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they do Just when everything looked so dark?) Man, they said we better Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between No, do not mess with Mister In-Between Do you hear me, hmm? (Oh, listen to me children and-a you will hear About the elininatin' of the negative And the accent on the positive) And gather 'round me children if you're willin' And sit tight while I start reviewin' The attitude of doin' right (You've gotta accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between) You've got to spread joy (up to the maximum) Bring gloom (down) down to the minimum Otherwise (otherwise) pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene To illustrate (well illustrate) my last remark (you got the floor) Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark What did they say? (what did they say?) Say when everything looked so dark Man, they said "We better Accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with Mister In-Between"
.
No! Don't mess with Mister In-Between

.

as written by JOHNNY MERCER/HAROLD ARLEN

as sung by ELLA FITZGERALD AND THE INKSPOTS

.

ane here's ELLA singing another of my favourite bluegrass songs. . .