Well, I met the man
In Montgomery, Alabama
I was waiting on a bus
And he was shining shoes
And I heard him say

I'm a shoeshine man
Number one in the land
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
Called the Southside Montgomery Blues
You better stick around and watch me
'Cause I'm an entertaining fool

I'm a shoeshine man
Number one in the land
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 of mine
Shined a pair of alligators
Made a hundred dollar bill one time
Says when that meat gets scarce
He'd shine two or three pairs for a dime

I'm a shoeshine man
Number one in the land
Shoeshine man
Make you shine where you stand
Leave me a tip if you can
I'm a shoeshine man

I had a girl who helped me
She had a lot of hoochie coochie ways
She was bumpin' and grindin'
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
Shoeshine man
Make you shine where you stand
Leave me a tip if you can
I'm a shoeshine man