The so-called "Shame [correct spelling and meaning] McBride" is based on an actual character that LH knew well when he was imin Blind River, Ontario (yes, it exists). At the time LH was researching the music of bums, tramps, hoboes, panhandlers, and sex workers for his PhD dissertation at Juilliard¹.

Yes, he received a PhD from the Fred Juilliard School of Clog Dancing. Call him "Doc Hawk" to let him know you know.


¹Hawk, Little. "A Dissertation On the Music of Bums, Tramps, Hoboes, Panhandlers, and Sex Workers In Blind River, Ontario, Canada, Submitted In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the Fred Juilliard School of Clog Dancing, June 13, 1932."