Malvina Reynolds: Song Lyrics and Poems  



Street Corner Blues

Notes: words and music by Malvina Reynolds; copyright 1960 Schroder Music Company, renewed 1988.


Stand around the corner, watch the cars go by,
Stand around the corner, watch the cars go by,
Haven't got the money for coffee and pie.

Stand around the corner, watch the hardtops pass,
Stand around the corner, watch the hardtops pass,
If I had a hardtop, couldn't buy the gas.

Stand around the corner, jump and holler for fun,
Stand around the corner, jump and holler for fun,
Can't do nothing but throw your fists and run.

I got a future, I can see it plain,
I got a future, I can see it plain,
March me in the river, march me in the rain.

I got a future, doors are open to me,
I got a future, doors are open to me,
Jailhouse door, or the infantry.

Stand around the corner, coppers stand around, too,
Stand around the corner, coppers stand around, too,
Cops around the corner, nothing else to do.

Folks look right through you when you're drafting age,
Folks look right through you when you're drafting age,
Everybody sees you when you make front page.1

Got me a dolly, can't get very far,
Got me a dolly, can't get very far,
Can't buy her coffee or take her out in a car.

Got me a baby, she sure is sweet to me,
Got me a baby, she sure is sweet to me,
She'll kiss me goodbye when I make the infantry.


Malvina Reynolds songbook(s) in which the music to this song appears:
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Malvina Reynolds recording(s) on which this song is performed:
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Additional note
1. In another version of the lyrics, the last two verses given above are replaced with the following three:

Get me a good job, earn a buck and a dime,
Get me a good job, earn a buck and a dime,
Jobs getting scarcer, more guys all the time.

Got me a dolly, can't get very far,
Got me a dolly, can't get very far,
Can't buy her coffee or take her out in a car.

Got me a dolly, sure is sweet to me,
Got me a dolly, sure is sweet to me,
She'll kiss me goodbye when I make the infantry.


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