He lived down by the railroad track
Had an old stove in a one room shack
Shoe string was the only name he had
When I skipped school he'd take my fishing
Sittin' on creek bank talkin' and wishin'
Things were good whenever times got bad

And the people say shoe string you ain't got no money
Shoe string you can't hang around here
Shoe string you got your hat on backwards
He knows more than most folks do
He don't talk unless you ask him to

When the winter comes and the wind blows mean
Shoe string hops that southbound train
Rides it down below that Florida line
Well he's laying low and picking fruit
Sleeping in his worn shoes
But he'll always come back summer time

And the folks say shoe string you ain't got no money...

Last time I looked and found him gone
Folks said he's in an old folks home
Shoe string done retired on Uncle Sam
He's living it up in this private room
Playing checkers and eatin' prunes
Shoe string ain't no ordinary man

Still the people say shoe string you ain't got no money...
Shoe string you ain't got no money...