Five o'clock in the morning
Waking up on a cold back street
Lifts his head and he's yawning
Shoe shine boy with no food to eat

Walks on down to the railway station
Maybe find some warmth in a room
He ain't got no destination
You can hear him sigh in the gloom

Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine keep the wolf at bay
Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine shine your blues away

In the heart of the city
You can't find no peace or joy
A young boy's life is a pity
He ain't never had a brand new toy

He puts his face against the window
Of a rich store on fifth avenue
His breath is steaming in the ice-cold wind
His little fingers are turning blue

Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine keep the wolf at bay
Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine shine your blues away

Shine 'em up, shine 'em up
When he's down in the station
Cleaning shoes at five cents a time
He ain't never had a vacation

And if he did you know it would blow his mind
He's got a friend named Billy
Spends his time stealing hub caps from cars
And when the night gets too chilly
They huddle together staring at the stars

Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine keep the wolf at bay
Shoe shine trying to make a dollar
Shoe shine shine your blues away