In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town
Doris Day & The Norman Luboff Choir And The Buddy Cole Quartett Lyrics
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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
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, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ira Schuster, Joe Young, Jack Little
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind