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.
The Ugliest Man in Town
Shel Silverstein Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Other guys make it 'cause they're clever and witty,
But the only love I ever got, I got out of pity,
'Cause I'm the ugliest guy in town.
Yeah, I drive down the road in a platinum car,
Use hundred dollar bills when I light my cigar,
But still an' all, you know, that won't get you very far
There was a note on the doorstep where I was found,
Is said, "This sweet child weighs eleven pounds,
So bring him up healthy and welthy and sound,
Keep his back to the light, don't let him turn around.
Yeah, all you women, you're heartless and cold.
All you want is my silver and gold.
Say now, don't you know I've got a beautiful soul,
Though I'm the ugliest man in town?
Yeah, I'm so ugly, I shave in the dark,
Kids start to cry when I walk through the park,
Clocks stop tickin' and dogs start to bark
Whenever I come around.
Yeah, I walk down the street and the girls all hiss me,
If I died tomorrow, not one of them would miss me.
Only reason they ball me is they can't stand to kiss me.
I'm the ugliest man in town.
Oh, yeah.. the ugliest man in town.
The song "The Ugliest Man in Town" by Shel Silverstein is a humorous take on the idea that physical appearance often seems to matter more than anything else, especially in attracting love and affection. The lyrics of the song establish the singer's self-deprecation as he concedes that he never got love based on his looks, but rather out of pity. He even mentions using his wealth to get attention, but still finds no luck due to his appearance.
The lyrics also seem to suggest that he has been ostracized and ridiculed all his life, with kids in the park crying and dogs barking at his sight. The singer blames the women around him for being heartless and only wanting his money, rather than considering his beautiful soul.
The song is a commentary on the superficial nature of society and how external appearances are often prioritized over anything else. It's a lighthearted way of addressing a common and relatable fear of not being good enough physically. The song is meant to be taken with a grain of salt, as Silverstein uses humor as a way of coping with his insecurities.
Line by Line Meaning
Handsome guys get girls that are pretty,
Attractive people appeal to the opposite sex based on their physical appearance.
Other guys make it 'cause they're clever and witty,
Intelligent and humorous people attract the opposite sex based on their personality and conversation skills.
But the only love I ever got, I got out of pity,
The singer received love from others solely because they felt sorry for him, not because of any personal qualities.
'Cause I'm the ugliest guy in town.
The artist believes his physical appearance is unattractive and that's why he receives pity instead of genuine affection.
Yeah, I drive down the road in a platinum car,
The artist is wealthy and can afford expensive luxury items.
Use hundred dollar bills when I light my cigar,
The singer is so wealthy that he can use hundred dollar bills to light his cigar without thought of expense.
But still an' all, you know, that won't get you very far
The singer acknowledges that wealth and luxury items may not lead to genuine affection from others.
When you're the ugliest man in town.
The artist believes his appearance reduces his worth in the eyes of others.
There was a note on the doorstep where I was found,
The artist may have been abandoned as a child and left with nothing but a note at his doorstep.
Is said, "This sweet child weighs eleven pounds,
The note at the doorstep perhaps detailed the child's weight and asked that the child be taken care of.
So bring him up healthy and welthy and sound,
Despite the unknown reason why a child may be left on doorsteps, the note requested that the child be well taken care of physically and emotionally.
Keep his back to the light, don't let him turn around.
It's unclear what this line means, but it may indicate that the child isn't to know the identity of the person who left him on the doorstep.
Yeah, all you women, you're heartless and cold.
The singer holds a negative view of women and accuses them of being uncaring and cruel.
All you want is my silver and gold.
The singer believes women only seek him out for his wealth and not genuine love.
Say now, don't you know I've got a beautiful soul,
The singer believes he has a beautiful side to him that women don't see beyond his unattractive physical appearance.
Though I'm the ugliest man in town?
Despite feeling unattractive, the artist still holds hope that he may be seen beyond his appearance.
Yeah, I'm so ugly, I shave in the dark,
The artist is so uncomfortable with his appearance that he shaves in the dark to avoid looking at himself in the mirror.
Kids start to cry when I walk through the park,
The singer's appearance is frightening to children, and they may cry or react negatively to him.
Clocks stop tickin' and dogs start to bark
The singer's appearance is so shocking to others that pets, and even objects like clocks, may react unpredictably around him.
Whenever I come around.
The artist's presence can be jarring to others, which may reflect his lack of self-esteem.
Yeah, I walk down the street and the girls all hiss me,
Despite the artist's negative view of women, they still react negatively or with disinterest towards him.
If I died tomorrow, not one of them would miss me.
The artist believes that if he were to die, nobody would feel a true sense of loss or sadness for his passing.
Only reason they ball me is they can't stand to kiss me.
The women who are expressing physical attraction to the singer may only be doing so because they are having fun at his expense, not because they actually find him attractive.
I'm the ugliest man in town.
Despite having wealth and luxury items, the artist's self-image is defined by his appearance, and he cannot overcome this mental obstacle.
Oh, yeah.. the ugliest man in town.
The singer laments the label he's been given, and it has taken a toll on his self-esteem.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@denisehedden5108
🖤🥀Amazing song! Shel Silverstien knew exactly what he wanted to keep his fans happy he wrote song's that many people didn't know about Johnny Cash Man named Sue, that's one example of the crazy good sence of humor he had. He wrote Loretta Lynn song's ect he mainly wrote song's & gave them to Dr Hook lead singer Dennis Locorriere and he knew he'd found the perfect person to sing his song's. He was such a gentle Soul deep within he had to be to write his song's with so much passion🥀✌🥀☝️🕊🥀🕊🥀
@jokingist
This mans talent was so vast, from illustrations for playboy ,to poetry, songs -wrote so many songs cant even begin. And his children books are the best! The world is a better place because you were in it! :)
@Jballew263
Grew up learning his poems in school. its as shame hes been banned at some schools due to his musical genius...
@Tippers94
Wow I didn't know that. I had to memorize several of his poems for school and they truly opened up a whole new world for me. Another of my favorite poets are Langston Hughes. Its crazy how easily they ban things now. I mean Catcher in the Rye too? Really? I came of age when I read it 🤣 thats why kids today are doing drugs and having sex. There's no excitement!
@tristantzara68
He knew how to write like no one else his legacy is tremedous
@SyggNielsen-jg3hf
Sheldon, you were probably the most stoned, overlooked, clever and wittiest, sauciest yehud in town. WITH songwriting ability!
@markwatson3083
Shel was so good that he did not have to brag!
@diana.diamond
hes so brilliant!!
@jccw227
I always enjoyed his voice. I thought he sounded like a depraved Winnie the Pooh.
@philnamber
Hats off to my songwriting idol. Next to David Allan Coe