Silverstein's passion for music was clear early on as he studied for a while at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University. As a songwriter, Silverstein kept a low profile but cast a long shadow. He tended to shun publicity and even photographers. Nonetheless, his musical output included many songs which were hits for other artists. Most notably, he wrote the music and lyrics for "A Boy Named Sue" that was performed by Johnny Cash (for which he won a Grammy in 1970); "One's on the Way" (which was a hit for Loretta Lynn), and "The Unicorn Song" which, despite having nothing to do with Ireland nor Irish culture, became the signature piece for The Irish Rovers in 1968 and is popular in pubs all over the world to this day. He wrote the lyrics and music for most of the Dr. Hook songs, including "Cover of the Rolling Stone", "Freakin' at the Freakers' Ball", "Sylvia's Mother", and the cautionary song about VD, "Don't Give a Dose to the One You Love Most". He also wrote many of the songs performed by Bobby Bare, including "Marie Laveau", "Rosalie's Good Eats Cafe", "The Mermaid", "The Winner", and "Tequila Sheila". The song "The Ballad of Lucy Jordan",] recorded in 1979 by Marianne Faithfull and later featured in the films Montenegro and Thelma & Louise, was also by Silverstein.
Handy Man
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tuesday I'll be collecting trash.
And on a Wednesday, I might be tending bars.
Thursdays I'll be the guy who parks you car.
And on a Friday I might be teachin' pool.
Saturday finds me hustlin' pool.
I got a whole lot of talents in demand.
That's why they call me Handy Man.
(Bah - Bah - Bah)
All the neighborhood girls and boys
(Bah - Bah - Bah - Bah)
They come to me to mend their toys.
(Dah - Dah - Dah - Dah)
Their daddy's call me to mow the lawn,
And their mom's all horny when their daddy's not at home!
I can drive a tractor, wheel a truck.
I can deal a hand at poker with exceptional luck.
I can chop down a redwood using just one hand.
That's why they call me Handy Man.
SPOKEN:
Yeah, that's why if you need me in emergencies,
I can come round and just, you know,
Work around the house or backyard or somethin'
Not too taxin' tho'...
Yeah, six in the morning I'm out picking fruit.
Eight Forty-Five I'm back pressing suits.
Twelve o'clock you'll see me shining shoes.
Cocktail hour I'll be servin' booze .
I can wash your windows, walk your pet.
Get you color reception on a black and white set.
I can play a concerto on your baby grand
'Cause I'm a Handy Man .
(Bah - Bah - Bah )
All the neighborhood girls and boys
They come to me to mend their toys.
Their daddy's call me to mow the lawn
And their mom's all horny when their daddy's not at home!
I save my evenin's for brand new faces.
Weekends are reserved for emergency cases.
I tell you, babe, you gotta understand
That I'm a Handy Man.
In Shel Silverstein's "Handy Man," the singer boasts about his many skills and talents, and how they make him a valuable and versatile member of the community. The song is structured around a list of odd jobs and tasks that the singer has performed or is willing to perform, from slinging hash on Mondays to playing a concerto on a baby grand on Saturdays. Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes how his unique set of abilities make him indispensable to everyone around him. He is capable of fixing toys and mowing lawns, tending bars and parking cars, pressing suits and shining shoes, and much more.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, on a Monday I'll be slinging hash.
On Mondays, I work as a cook in a restaurant.
Tuesday I'll be collecting trash.
On Tuesdays, I work as a garbage collector.
And on a Wednesday, I might be tending bars.
On Wednesdays, I sometimes work as a bartender.
Thursdays I'll be the guy who parks you car.
On Thursdays, I work as a valet parking attendant.
And on a Friday I might be teachin' pool.
On Fridays, I sometimes work as a pool teacher.
Saturday finds me hustlin' pool.
On Saturdays, I work as a pool hustler.
I got a whole lot of talents in demand.
I have many skills that people need.
That's why they call me Handy Man.
That's why I'm called Handy Man.
(Bah - Bah - Bah)
All the neighborhood girls and boys
(Bah - Bah - Bah - Bah)
They come to me to mend their toys.
(Dah - Dah - Dah - Dah)
Their daddy's call me to mow the lawn,
And their mom's all horny when their daddy's not at home!
Children and their fathers ask me to fix their toys and mow their lawns while their mothers try to flirt with me when their husbands are not around.
I can drive a tractor, wheel a truck.
I can operate heavy machinery.
I can deal a hand at poker with exceptional luck.
I am very lucky at playing poker.
I can chop down a redwood using just one hand.
I am very strong and can cut down a large tree with ease.
That's why they call me Handy Man.
That's why I'm called Handy Man.
SPOKEN:
Yeah, that's why if you need me in emergencies,
I can come round and just, you know,
Work around the house or backyard or somethin'
Not too taxin' tho'...
If you need me urgently, I can come over and do some simple tasks around your house or backyard.
Yeah, six in the morning I'm out picking fruit.
At six in the morning, I work as a farmer picking fruit.
Eight Forty-Five I'm back pressing suits.
At 8:45 in the morning, I work as a tailor pressing suits.
Twelve o'clock you'll see me shining shoes.
At noon, I work as a shoe shiner.
Cocktail hour I'll be servin' booze .
During cocktail hour, I work as a bartender serving drinks.
I can wash your windows, walk your pet.
I can clean your windows and take your pet for a walk.
Get you color reception on a black and white set.
I can adjust your black and white TV to receive color signals.
I can play a concerto on your baby grand
I am a skilled pianist and can play a difficult piece on your baby grand piano.
'Cause I'm a Handy Man .
Because I am Handy Man.
(Bah - Bah - Bah )
All the neighborhood girls and boys
They come to me to mend their toys.
Their daddy's call me to mow the lawn
And their mom's all horny when their daddy's not at home!
Children and their fathers ask me to fix their toys and mow their lawns while their mothers try to flirt with me when their husbands are not around.
I save my evenin's for brand new faces.
I keep my evenings free to meet new people.
Weekends are reserved for emergency cases.
I only work on weekends in case of emergencies.
I tell you, babe, you gotta understand
You need to understand, my dear.
That I'm a Handy Man.
That's why I'm called Handy Man.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind