Well I met a man in Montgomery Alabama
I was waitin' on a bus he was shinin' shoes and I heard him say
I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land
I'm a shoeshine man make your 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 my harmonica too
I got a brand new thing called the South Side Montgomery Blues
You better stick around and watch me cause I'm an entertainer fool
I'm a shoeshine man

Why I learned my trade from that rank poppin' daddy o'mine
He shined pair of alligators made a hundred dollar bill on time
And when the meat get scare shine two or three pairs for a dime
I'm a shoeshine man

I had a girl that helped me she had a lotta hoochy coochy ways
She's 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