In New York city just walking the street

Ran out of money had nothing to eat

I stopped at the Plaza, that fancy hotel

Where you can check in if you're well to do well

The first of July and a hundred and four

I stopped at the Plaza's front revolving door

I stepped in the door and went around for a ride

Treatin' myself to the cool air inside

Then I found myself in a chandeliered room

Where people were dining and I hid in the gloom

My hunger pains hurt ‘til I thought I would break

When a waiter brought out a big strawberry cake



Oh that strawberry cake

Oh that strawberry cake

Out in California them berries were grown

And into this city them berries were flown

For making that strawberry cake



Then I thought of Oxnard, just north of LA

Where I picked strawberries for many a day

Hard work with no future for the harvest was done

And I headed eastward a-travelin' by thumb

And nobody wanted me here in this town

I felt like a stray dog they all kick around

Them berries reminded me of my bad breaks

I'm hungry and I want that strawberry cake



I deserve that strawberry cake

Deserve that strawberry cake

I ran and I grabbed it then out the side door

Into Central Park through the bushes I tore

Holdin' my strawberry cake



I look back behind me and what do I see

The chef and headwaiter and the maÃÆ'®tre d

I had a nice helpin' of cake as I ran

I gobble them berries as fast as I can

They're closin' the gap as I slowed down to eat

But the cake brought a new surge of power to my feet

I hid in the bush when the lead I did take

And I quietly finished my strawberry cake



I ate all that strawberry cake

That fine fancy strawberry cake

Someone at the plaza is without dessert

But for the first time in days now my belly don't hurt

I'm full of strawberry cake