Nine o'clock on a cold November night Busking at a downtown stop Stompin' my feet to a Dylan beat I'm tryin' out a couple new chops Well, I damn near froze my ears and toes And my hands can barely play A bit crazy I suppose But how I make my pay
Well I played in the taverns, joints and bars And I played for the business man Always lookin' over my shoulder You know, he deals with a heavy hand Out here, I choose my time of day And I get to sing my songs And you can listen If you like Or you can move aiong
(chorus:) Down on the promenade, out on the street At the market on a Saturday Bangin' on a tenor banjo I sing songs to make my pay Well, some may sing and some may dance And some may turn away I get to play Every day Throw a coin my way
Well, this old battered case of mine May never see a five or a ten I get enough for a good meal A pack of cigarettes, now and then In an alcove, where the wind don't blow I keep me a bottle of wine Loosen up them fingers When I work `em overtime
(chorus )
Oh, Mary Martin, she's my love She's my heart's delight She keeps me in this seaport town And she keeps me warm at night She works down at the harbour bar, Serving rum and beer I would be south Where the streets are warm But I can't leave her here