You got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-between

You 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, hm?

(Oh, listen to me chil'ren and-a you will hear
About the eliminatin' of the negative and the accent on the positive)
And gather 'round me chil'ren, if you're willin', and sit tight
While I start reviewin' the attitude of doin' it right

(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) Down to the minimum
Otherwise
(Otherwise)
Pandemonium liable to walk upon the scene

(To illustrate)
Well, illustrate!
(My last remark)
(Jo-)
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the Ark
(-nah 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!

Writer(s): MERCER JOHN H, ARLEN HAROLD<br>Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com