IT'S ONLY A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN aka IN A SHANTY IN OLD SHANTY TOWN
From the film "The Crooner" (1932)
(Joe Young / Little Jack Little / John Siras)

Ted Lewis & His Band (vocal: Ted Lewis) - 1932
Ted Black & His Orch. (vocal: Chick Bullock) - 1932
Johnny Long & His Orch. - 1940 & 1946
Somethin' Smith & The Redheads - 1956


I'm up in the world,
but I'd give the world to be where I used to be,
A heavenly nest,
where I rest the best,
means more than the world to me.

It's only a shanty
in old Shanty Town
the roof is so slanty it touches the ground.
But my tumbled down shack by an old railroad track,
like a millionaire's mansion is calling me back.

I'd give up a palace if I were a king.
It's more than a palace, it's my everything.
There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown
in a shanty in old Shanty Town.


(Contributed by Gramam Gibson - January 2005)


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As recorded by Somethin' Smith & The Redheads:


Shanty! Shanty! Shanty!

It's only a shanty in old shanty town
The roof is so slanty, it touches the ground
But my tumbledown shack by an old railroad track
Like a millionaire's mansion is calling me back

I'd give up a palace if I were a king
It's more than a palace, it's my everything
There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown
In a shanty in old shanty town

There's a shanty in a track an' although it's just a shack
There's a G.I. loan, gotta pay it back
The paint's brand new, but the loan is overdue
And I'm double my stack
It's a knocked-out pad, but the neighbours are mad
'Cause the cat next door is a swingin' lad
Out o' my mind most all o' the time
This squaresville settlement's drivin' me mad
I'd be just as sassy as Trigger or Lassie
I wouldn't even pay my union dues
A toast to all, let's have a ball
Hi-fi records blow rhythm and blues
Gotta queen waitin' there in a contour chair
Gave up rockin' 'cause she's no square
But I'm jumpin' up and down an' I'm actin' like a clown
'Cause I gotta get back to my shanty town

I'd give up a palace if I were a king
It's more than a palace, it's my everything
There's a queen waiting there with a silvery crown
In a shanty in old shanty town


(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - January 2005)


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