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Shoeshine Workin’ Song Lyrics by Murray McLauchlan

Sweeping the Spotlight Away

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A kid came up while I was
Walkin' down the street today
And asked if he could shine my shoes
For two bits worth of pay
I wasn't in no hurry
And it wouldn't take too long
But as he worked I heard him sing
A strange and mornful song
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
Why does he just sit there
Lookin' at the T.V. screen
Why does he get sick and cry
And blame it all on me?
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
I asked him where his Daddy was
His thumb jerked past his ear
He's over in the hotel
Tryin' to drown himself in beer
My Mom says he's my Daddy
But he says that he don't know
I don't know why he's like he is
I try to love him though
Well I said, I'm no authority
On bein' beaten down
But sometimes this old world
Can drive a man into the ground
Can chain him to his paycheck
If some boss will give him work
Or put him in a welfare line
And treat him like he's dirt
When the dreams they give a man are gone
There's little left but hate
Some men are blinded to the truth
Until it's just too late
Until he finds himself begging
With his hand all around his hat
Kid, you ask your Daddy
If he knows a man like that
The kid looked at me funny
And I gave him fifty cents
And he knew as he took it
That it was already spent
I smiled as he picked up his box
The kid, he said "So long"
And as he left I heard him sing
His shoeshine workin' song
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
Why does he just sit there
Lookin' at the T.V. screen
Why does he get sick and cry
And blame it all on me?
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
Why does Daddy drink so much
And come home sad and mean?
Credits
Murray McLauchlan

Murray McLauchlan

About “Shoeshine Workin’ Song” by Murray McLauchlan

Read the complete lyrics to "Shoeshine Workin’ Song" by Murray McLauchlan from the album "Sweeping the Spotlight Away". On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Pop.

"Shoeshine Workin’ Song" is performed by Murray McLauchlan. from the album "Sweeping the Spotlight Away" This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Shoeshine Workin’ Song", explore more songs by Murray McLauchlan using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Shoeshine Workin’ Song" is credited to Murray McLauchlan. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Shoeshine Workin’ Song" appears on "Sweeping the Spotlight Away".

Visit the Murray McLauchlan artist page at /artist/murray-mclauchlan for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.