Well, I met a man in Montgomery Alabama
I was waitin' on a bus and he was shinin' shoes and I heard him say.

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land
A 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 on the South Side Montgomery Blues
You better stick around and watch me 'cause I'm an entertainin' fool.

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land
A 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 o'mine
He shined twelve alligators, made a hundred dollar bill one time
And when the meat gets scarce I shine two or three pairs for a dime.

I'm a shoeshine man number one in the land
A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand
Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man.

--- Instrumental ---

I had a girl that helped me she had a lotta hoochy, coochy ways
She was bumping and grinding 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
A shoeshine man make you shine where you stand
Leave me a tip if you can I'm a shoeshine man...