Down on the Corner
Dennis East Lyrics
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Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Rooster hits the washboard,
People just got to smile
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
You don't need a penny just to hang around
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
Over on the corner there's a happy noise
People come from all around to watch the magic boy
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
Down on the corner
Out here in the street
Willy and the poor boys are playing
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
The lyrics to Dennis East's "Down on the corner" describe an upbeat scene on a street corner, where Willy and the poor boys are playing music for passersby to enjoy. The opening lines set the scene in the early evening, just as people are starting to unwind near the courthouse. The focus then shifts to four kids on the corner who are trying to lift spirits with their music. Willy plays the harmonica as the others join in, including Rooster on the washboard, Blinky on the bass, and Poor boy on his guitar. Willy even breaks into a dance and plays the kazoo to further entertain.
Central to the song's chorus is the phrase "Bring a nickel, tap your feet," which invites the audience to be part of the experience. The lyrics suggest that while anyone can hang out on the corner and watch the show, contributing a nickel to the cause is appreciated. But no matter what, the music is always there to cheer people up. The final stanza reiterates that the corner is a happy place, where people come from all over to watch the "magic boy" and his bandmates.
Overall, the lyrics to "Down on the corner" paint a vivid picture of a bustling street corner filled with music and joy. Its upbeat melody and catchy chorus invite participation, whether as a listener or a contributing nickel.
Line by Line Meaning
Early in the evening just about supper time
It's early evening and almost time for dinner.
Over by the courthouse they're starting to unwind
People near the courthouse are starting to relax and wind down.
Four kids on the corner trying to bring you up
Four young people on the street trying to lift your spirits.
Willy picks a tune out and he blows it on the harp
Willy plays a melody on his harmonica.
Rooster hits the washboard,
Rooster plays the washboard, a musical instrument made of a metal or wooden board and thimbles worn over fingers.
People just got to smile
People in the audience can't help but smile.
Blinky thumps the gut bass and solos for a while
Blinky plays the upright bass and takes a solo for a bit.
Poor boy twangs the rhythm out on his Kalamazoo
The young man plays the rhythm guitar on his Kalamazoo guitar.
Willy goes into a dance and doubles on kazoo
Willy dances and plays the kazoo at the same time.
You don't need a penny just to hang around
You don't have to pay anything to be in the area.
But if you've got a nickel, won't you lay your money down?
If you have a nickel, you're invited to donate it to the musicians.
Over on the corner there's a happy noise
There's a joyful sound coming from the nearby street corner.
People come from all around to watch the magic boy
People come from different places to see the talented boy perform.
Down on the corner, out here in the street
The musicians are playing on the street corner.
Willy and the poor boys are playing
The band, called Willy and the poor boys, are performing.
Bring a nickel, tap your feet
If you have a nickel, you can donate it and enjoy the music by tapping your feet.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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