[Verse 1]



Once upon a time, Brooklyn was the scene

In the project that they called Fort Greene

There lived a young man, Cinderfella's his name

To make it interesting it's me, Dana Dane

I lived in a house with my cruel step-dad

And two step-brothers who treated me bad

I cooked, I cleaned, I scrubbed the floors

And I was like an errand boy runnin' to the stores

My brothers, they used to boast and brag:

"We've got fresh gear and you've got rags!"

Even worse than that, to make me feel low

They gave me a straw hat, while they had Kangols

Girls used to say, "Dane, you're so cute

But you gets no rap with them polyester suits"

Well, one day, up the avenue

There was a man surrounded by the Fort Greene crew

He said, "Hear ye! Hear ye! Come one, come all!

The princess is having a royal ball

If you can rap, also dress fresh

You might win a date with the sweet princess"

Well I, um, ran home when I heard the newsflash

I bust through the door, straight to my step-dad

I said "Step-dad, may I?"

And before I could finish, "Hell no!", he replied

My brothers were goin', they were geared down

Even Pops was goin' for a piece of the crown

They flaunted, they haunted, they knew what I wanted

"We can and you can't" is what they taunted

They all stood there laughing in my face

And as they walked out they said, "Clean up this place!"



[Chorus]



(Cinderfella Dana Dane!)

But I'm the rapper Dana Dane with fame

(Cinderfella Dana Dane!)

Yes, I'm the rapper Dana Dane with fame



[Verse 2]



Well I shrugged, I hissed, "They're all tryna diss

I'd get them back if I had one wish"

Before I could make my thought a phrase

There appeared a man from a puff of haze

He said, "What's up, Dane? My name is Hurb

I'm your fairy godfather, you know it, word!

Now I've came here with the main purpose

Of granting you your fondest wish"

I said, "Hurb, my man, just make me fresh

And I'm sure that I can handle all the rest"

With a snap of his fingers sparks began to shoot

And I was tough and on my body: a slick silk suit

On my feet there was argyle socks

And a fresh pair of Ballys from the Bally shop

I showed him my hat and don't you know

With a snap the hat became a Kangol

Once again his hands began to flow

Then he changed my skateboard into a Volvo

He checked me over, passed me the keys

And said, "One more thing before you leave...

You must return before the stroke of twelve

Or you'll turn back into your old self"



[Repeat chorus]



[Verse 3]



I jumped in the Volvo, went on my way

I got to the party 'bout ten, I'd say

It was after eleven when I rocked the mic

And by the time I left the stage the people were hyped

The princess was staring in disbelief

Reflected from her eyes were my gold teeth

She waved her hands like 'Hello! Hi!'

Then gave another gesture like 'Come here, guy'

I left the stage, girls came in flocks

Fists were swingin' from the hard rocks

I heard a sound, not a tick nor tock

Gong! First bell before twelve o'clock

No time to waste, I broke out in haste

The princess followed in a futile chase

A quick steady pace is what I kept

Lost one of my Ballys on one of those steps

For the Volvo I continued my stride

About this time I heard gong five

I was down the block when I heard gong eight

And the princess scream out, "Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!"



[Repeat chorus]



[Verse 4]



I was almost home when my luck ran out

And there went my suit, my Kangol and clothes

My fresh Volvo also went too

And there was no denyin' that my night was through

The one Bally shoe the freshest thing I sported

Jumped on my board, for home I skateboarded

Made it to my pad, no time at all

Went to my room, or better yet the far wall

Hid the shoe away still feelin' pleased

Then jumped in my cot to catch some Z's

Early the next morning when I awoke

I threw on me old slippers and me old housecoat

Went into the front, my family stared at me

Sayin' "Wasn't that you?! Nah, it couldn't be"

They kept askin' me as I did my chores

My butt was saved by a knock on the door

"Who is it?", that's what my brothers barked

"The princess", this sweet voice remarked

She said she was lookin' for a certain man

Who could bring her the shoe like the one in her hand

The family ran around with their heads in the air

Bringin' on shoes from everywhere

She just shook her head, a nod of relief

Sayin' "No, that's not the one that I'm lookin' for, chief"

I ran in the room and got my shoe

And said, "Is this the one you're referring to?"

Well she said, "Yes, and you're so cute

But where's your Kangol and slick silk suit?"

I put on the shoe, there came a flash of light

And I was tough in the gear from just last night

Looked out the window, saw the Volvo

Said to my family, "I've got to go"

We drove up the avenue, the princess and I

And in back of me I heard my family cry...



[Repeat chorus]



(Cinderfella!)

Yes, I'm the rapper Dana Dane with fame

(Cinderfella!)