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