In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town
Doris Day Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's only a shanty
In old Shanty Town
The roof is so slanty
It touches the ground
But my tumbled down shack
By the 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

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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Doris Day's song In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town describe a narrator's fondness for a run-down, dilapidated shack in an impoverished area. Despite its shoddy roof and location next to the railroad tracks, the singer finds comfort and contentment in the small space, comparing it to a "millionaire's mansion." The singer is so attached to the shanty that they claim they would give up a palace if they were a king, as the shanty means "more than a palace" to them. In fact, they imagine a queen waiting for them with a "silvery crown" in the shanty, suggesting that the shack represents a sense of belonging and comfort that surpasses material wealth.


The contrast between the run-down shanty and the singer's admiration for it speaks to the themes of nostalgia, longing, and finding value in simplicity that are common in many classic American songs. The lyrics are especially poignant when considered in the context of Doris Day's career, as she rose to fame during the golden age of Hollywood and became known for her roles in glamorous musicals like Calamity Jane and Pillow Talk. In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town may have represented a departure from her usual fare, allowing her to connect with audiences on a more personal and intimate level.


Line by Line Meaning

It's only a shanty
The building is simple and humble


In old Shanty Town
The location is known as a place where poor people live


The roof is so slanty
The roof is not straight, but instead it's tilted to the side


It touches the ground
The roof is so low that it almost reaches the ground


But my tumbled down shack
Although the building is in bad condition, it belongs to me and I love it


By the old railroad track
The location is close to a railroad track


Like a millionaire's mansion
To me, it's just as valuable as a rich person's mansion


Is calling me back
The building has a special meaning to me and I feel like I need to go back to it


I'd give up a palace
I don't need a fancy and expensive building


If I were a king
Even if I had great power and wealth, I wouldn't need a palace


It's more than a palace
My humble building means more to me than any palace ever could


It's my everything
My building is not just a place to live, it's also a symbol of my life and identity


There's a queen waiting there
My loved one is waiting for me in the building


With a silvery crown
My loved one is special and precious to me


In a shanty in old Shanty Town
We both live in a humble building in a poor location, but it's our home and we love it




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Schuster, Joe Young, Jack Little

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Missi Nichols

I can still hear my mother playing this on her little ukulele.. funny how some songs can take you back to the best memories ❤️ I'd almost give up anything for just one more moment ..

C J

My parents were older when they had me and by the time i was a little boy, my Nana was already in her late 70s. She would sit me on her lap and sing this to me. Born in 1920 she lived through the entire depression! What i wouldnt give to see her again and have her sing to me one more time!

tj_

My nana used to sing this to me as well

Frank Robinson

I know how you feel lost 9
Brothers and sisters only one
Left by myself god bless you

Orion Franklin

pro trick : you can watch movies at Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using it for watching all kinds of movies during the lockdown.

Trombonology Erstwhile

Impeccable! Many jazz musicians study the lyrics of a song or a particular vocal version thereof, in order to understand how to interpret it instrumentally -- this is the kind of thing you can really learn from. Beautiful treatment.

Leprechaun Stud

Thank you for posting this.....love this song! She did a great interpretation....AS USUAL!

Matt Metcalf

My grandparents used to sing this to their kids with the ukulele. Now I play and sing it to mine

Missi Nichols

My mother did too!!! Oh how I miss her!! This song takes me back if only in my mind

Paul Toy

I knew a janitor when I worked at Bell Telephone who used to sing this song.I remember him singing as he went around doing his work but this is the first I've heard it in almost 40 years! And to hear Doris Day sing it's even better.Thank you

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