Lyrks
Lyrks
Sign In
Cover Art

Respectable Lyrics by Don McLean

Tapestry

0

[Verse 1]
Ah, it ain't so easy, is it? You almost lost your place
And perhaps you're wondering how you're going to cope with your disgrace
Well, your wealth is well established, and your friends were never few
And all the things they told you of you're finding to be true

[Refrain]
Well, if truth can free the guilty while the innocent must die
Then, I respect, respect, respect the coldest lie

[Verse 2]
And you talk of human justice while you drive on fancy wheels
And you push them to their limit just to see how nice it feels
Well, it doesn't really matter if she's living or she's dead
You just drive away forgetting that your bumper's dipped in red

[Refrain]
But, if that's the kind of justice that our hall of justice claims
Then I respect, respect, respect old Jesse James

[Verse 3]
And most cordially they caught, you, and they asked you to obey
And they threw you in prison just in case you could not pay
Well, King Arthur jousted Lancelot, who stole away his wife
And your lawyers jousted with the court to save your precious life

[Refrain]
Well, if living is what matters though you lie with every breath
Then, I respect, respect, the ones we put to death

[Verse 4]
And you won your case most easily, and soon you will be free
Ah, but there will be a million more who lose their liberty
Not because of what they did, but what they did not do
They did not pay a lawyer or a judge to see them through

[Refrain]
Why, they had no friends to call on, and they could not raise their bail
Well, if the winning is what matters, I respect the ones who fail
Credits
Don McLean

Don McLean

About “Respectable” by Don McLean

Read the complete lyrics to "Respectable" by Don McLean from the album "Tapestry". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Country, Acoustic, USA.

"Respectable" is performed by Don McLean. from the album "Tapestry" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Respectable", explore more songs by Don McLean using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

View all songs and biography for Don McLean · Trending lyrics · Billboard Hot 100

Frequently asked questions

"Respectable" is credited to Don McLean. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Respectable" appears on "Tapestry".

Visit the Don McLean artist page at /artist/don-mclean for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.

American Pie (L’Tric Remix)
Addicted to Black
A Brand New World
A White Sport Coat (and a Pink Carnation)
Ain’t She a Honey
1967
A Total Eclipse of the Sun
American Pie
Lyrks
Lyrks

Your gateway to the world of music lyrics.

Product

Features

Company

About

Artists

Trending

Legal

Privacy

Terms

Copyright

Support

Contact

Features

Charts

© 2026 Lyrks. All rights reserved.