Well, Im a jitterbug boy, by the shoe-shine
Resting on my laurels and my hardys too
Life of riley on a swing shift, gears follow my drift
Once upon a time I was in show-biz too
I seen the brooklyn dodgers playing at ebbets field
Seen the kentucky derby too
Its fast women, slow horses, unreliable sources,
And Im holding up the lamp-post if you want to know
Ive seen the wabash cannonball, buddy, Ive done it all
cause I slept with the lions and marilyn monroe,
Had breakfast in the eye of a hurricane
Fought rocky marciano, played minnesota fats,
Burned hundred-dollar bills, Ive eaten mulligan stew
Got drunk with louis armstrong, whats that old song?
I taught mickey mantle everything that he knows
So you ask me what Im doing here holding up the lamp-post,
Flipping this quarter, trying to make up my mind
And if its heads I go to tennessee, and tails I buy a drink,
If it lands on the edge I keep talking to you
(scat)
all my friends are married
every Tom and d*** and Harry
you must be strong
to go it alone
here's to the bachelors
and the bowery b**s
and those who feel that they're the ones
who are better off without a wife
CHORUS
I like to sleep until the crack of noon
midnight howlin' at the moon
goin' out when I wanto, comin' home when I please
I don't have to ask permission
if I want to go out fishing
and I never have to ask for the keys
never been no Valentino
had a girl who lived in Reno
left me for a trumpet player
didn't get me down
he was wanted for a**ault
though he said it weren't his fault
well the coppers rode him right
out of town
CHORUS
selfish about my privacy
as long as I can be with me
we get along so well I can't believe
I love to chew the fat with folks
and listen to all your dirty jokes
I'm so thankful for these friends
I do receive
CHORUS
Resting on my laurels and my hardys too
Life of riley on a swing shift, gears follow my drift
Once upon a time I was in show-biz too
I seen the brooklyn dodgers playing at ebbets field
Seen the kentucky derby too
Its fast women, slow horses, unreliable sources,
And Im holding up the lamp-post if you want to know
Ive seen the wabash cannonball, buddy, Ive done it all
cause I slept with the lions and marilyn monroe,
Had breakfast in the eye of a hurricane
Fought rocky marciano, played minnesota fats,
Burned hundred-dollar bills, Ive eaten mulligan stew
Got drunk with louis armstrong, whats that old song?
I taught mickey mantle everything that he knows
So you ask me what Im doing here holding up the lamp-post,
Flipping this quarter, trying to make up my mind
And if its heads I go to tennessee, and tails I buy a drink,
If it lands on the edge I keep talking to you
(scat)
all my friends are married
every Tom and d*** and Harry
you must be strong
to go it alone
here's to the bachelors
and the bowery b**s
and those who feel that they're the ones
who are better off without a wife
CHORUS
I like to sleep until the crack of noon
midnight howlin' at the moon
goin' out when I wanto, comin' home when I please
I don't have to ask permission
if I want to go out fishing
and I never have to ask for the keys
never been no Valentino
had a girl who lived in Reno
left me for a trumpet player
didn't get me down
he was wanted for a**ault
though he said it weren't his fault
well the coppers rode him right
out of town
CHORUS
selfish about my privacy
as long as I can be with me
we get along so well I can't believe
I love to chew the fat with folks
and listen to all your dirty jokes
I'm so thankful for these friends
I do receive
CHORUS