though you haven t many toys you don t envy any boys every day s a work day your work is just a game i d like to sing your praise but i don t know your name you re just a shoe shine boy you work hard all day shoe shine boy got no time to play every nickel helps a lot so shine shine shoe shine boy you find joy in the things you do shoe shine boy seldom ever blue you re content with what you ve got so shine shine shoe shine boy people look at you with scorn cause your clothes are worn and torn still you never whine you keep looking up and down the street pleading with each one you meet brother can you spare a shine oh shoe shine boy soon the day will come shoe shine boy soon a tune you ll hum every nickel helps a lot so shine shine shoe shine boy shoe shine shoe shine boy