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.
Queen Of The Silver Dollar
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Every night at nine o'clock.
And her chariot is the cross-town bus
That stops right down the block.
Then the old piano minstrel
Plays her song as she walks in,
And the Queen of the Silver Dollar's home again.
And she rules this smoky kingdom.
And her scepter is a wine glass,
And this bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her,
And fight to win her favors
And see which one will take the Queen
Of the Silver Dollar home.
Her royal gown is a satin dress
That's stained and slightly torn.
And her sparklin' jewels are rhinestones,
And her shoes are scuffed and worn
From the many roads she's traveled
And the wondrous sites she's seen.
And I watch her and I pray.
God save the Queen.
The Queen of the Silver Dollar's
Not as haughty as she seems.
She was once an ordinary girl
With ordinary dreams,
But I found her and I won her.
And I brought her into this world.
Yes, I'm the man who made a Queen
Of a simple country girl.
Now she's the Queen of the Silver Dollar,
And she rules this smoky kingdom.
And her scepter is a wine glass,
And this bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her
And fight to win her favors
And see which one will take the Queen
Of the Silver Dollar home.
"Queen of the Silver Dollar" by Shel Silverstein tells the story of a woman who is metaphorically portrayed as royalty within the context of a smoky bar setting. The lyrics describe her nightly routine, arriving at the bar at nine o'clock via the cross-town bus. The imagery of her chariot being the bus and the old piano minstrel playing her song upon her entrance sets the stage for her grand entrance as the Queen of the Silver Dollar.
The Queen's domain is the smoky kingdom of the bar, where she holds court from her throne, a bar stool, brandishing a wine glass as her scepter. The men around her are depicted as jesters vying for her attention, trying to win her favors and potentially taking her home. This paints a picture of the Queen as a figure of power and allure, with the men in the bar enchanted by her presence.
Despite her royal appearance, the lyrics also reveal a sense of vulnerability and humanity beneath the facade of the Queen. Her gown is described as stained and torn, her jewels as rhinestones, and her shoes as scuffed and worn, symbolizing the trials and tribulations she has faced on her journey. The singer watches her with a sense of reverence and empathy, expressing a wish for her well-being with the plea, "God save the Queen".
The final verse delves into the backstory of the Queen, revealing that she was once an ordinary girl with ordinary dreams before being transformed into royalty by the singer. This adds a layer of complexity to the character of the Queen, showcasing her journey from a simple country girl to a revered figure in the smoky kingdom of the bar. The repetition of the chorus reinforces her status as the Queen of the Silver Dollar and the allure she holds over those around her, making her a captivating and enigmatic figure in the song. Ultimately, the lyrics celebrate the Queen's resilience, transformation, and the complex dynamics of power and vulnerability within the world of the bar.
Lyrics © Iricom US Ltd
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ronja´s Dr Hook Channel
LYRICS:
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
And she rules this smokey kingdom
And her scepter is a wine glass
And a bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her
And fight to win her favor
And see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home.
She arrives in all her splendor
Every night at nine o'clock
And her chariot is the crosstown bus
That stops right down the block.
The old piano minstrel
Plays her song as she walks in.
And the Queen of the Silver Dollar is home again.
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
And she rules this smokey kingdom
And her scepter is a wine glass
And a bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her
And fight to win her favor
And see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home.
Her royal gown is a satin dress
That's stained and slightly torn;
Her sparkling jewels are rhinestones
And her shoes are scuffed and worn
From the many roads she's traveled
And the wondrous sights she's seen
I watch her and I pray, God save the Queen.
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
And she rules this smokey kingdom
And her sceptre is a wine glass
And a bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her
And fight to win her favor
And see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home.
The Queen of the Silver Dollar
Is not as haughty as she seems.
She was once an ordinary girl
With ordinary dreams.
'Til I found her and I won her
And I brought her to this world.
Yes I'm the one who made a queen
Of a simple country girl.
She's the Queen of the Silver Dollar
And she rules this smokey kingdom
And her sceptre is a wine glass
And a bar stool is her throne.
And the jesters flock around her
And fight to win her favor
And see which one will take the Queen of the Silver Dollar home.
Andrew Leeka
never heard a version with shell on it. amazing!
Alexandre Rubinauto
Puta som !!!!! Demais ......
Sherry Miller
Love this. TY Ronja.
Sherry Robillard
Shel says things but hates when you hear him
klfprankster
Is this from the Bottome Line club?
Ronja´s Dr Hook Channel
Yes, Per says it's from the night show