Who's that spankin' up the
Weather of the afternoon?
Exterminater for the legions of the
Cockroaches of gloom
Mister ears hang low
I'm barkin' at you

It gets scary in the morning
When the silver night has flown
We make merry in the gutter
Where rats like us belong
You try to rough ride against the tide
But the tide is awful strong
La la la la la la

Shoe shine man
I get hazy on my own
You get what I'm sayin'?
Shoe shine man
You leave them a shine
But they leave you alone

I been in my bed
Just a tossin' the night away
I been dinghy for a schooner
Row - rowin' the seas of grey
I was lost but now I'm found
And running down the drain
La la la la la la

Shoe shine man
I get crazy on my own
You get what I'm sayin'?
Shoe shine man
They leave you a dime
But they leave you alone

I'll be on my way
If I can keep it under me
Belly flopping for a medal
Or a nowhere I have seen
I'm gonna miss this emptiness
Like sailors miss gangrene
La la la la la la

Shoeshine man
Horse - horsin' 'neath the
Lady city's whip
Shoeshine man
I'll give you a dime and
I'll give you the slip