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