Shoeshine Man

(Tom T. Hall)



Well, I met a man in Montgomery Alabama

I was waitin' on a bus and he was shinin' shoes and I heard him say.



I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land

A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand

Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man.



Well. I can sing, I can dance, I can play the harmonica too

I got a brand new thing on the South Side Montgomery Blues

You better stick around and watch me 'cause I'm an entertainin' fool.



I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land

A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand

Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man.



Well, I learned my trade from that rag-poppin' daddy o'mine

He shined twelve alligators, made a hundred dollar bill one time

And when the meat gets scarce I shine two or three pairs for a dime.



I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land

A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand

Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man.



--- Instrumental ---



I had a girl that helped me she had a lotta hoochy, coochy ways

She was bumping and grinding paid that girl a dollar a day

But she was shy on age and the law come and took her away.



I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land

A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand

Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man...