When I was just a youngster
This man looked down and said
He said, what you gonna be when you grow up
I just know you'll get ahead
But it didn't turn out that way
It just didn't turn out that way
No matter what that old man say
It just didn't turn out that way
When I was a schoolboy
My teacher said to me
Work hard, do right
You can be what you want to be
But it didn't turn out that way
It just didn't turn out that way
No matter what that teacher say
It just didn't turn out that way
When I was a young man
I looking for a mate
I met this girl
And we declared we'd share a mutual fate
But it didn't turn out that way
It just didn't turn out that way
No matter what we used to say
It just didn't turn out that way
Well I became a wanderer
Left my old life behind
I thought if I went far enough
I'd find my peace of mind
But it didn't turn out that way
It just didn't turn out that way
No matter what I'd like to say
It just didn't turn out that way
It Didn’t Turn Out That Way was written by Mose Allison.