Murray McLauchlan: Shoeshine Workin' Song

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?