Sticks and stones will break my bones
But I always will be true
And when your mama is dead and gone
I'll sing this lullaby just for you
So what becomes of all the little boys
Who never comb their hair?
They're lined up all around the block
On The Nickel over there

So you better bring a bucket
There is a hole in the pail
If you don't get my letter
Then you'll know that I'm in jail
So what becomes of all the little boys
Who never say their prayers?
They're sleepin' like a baby
On The Nickel over there

If you chew tobacco, and wish upon a star
You'll find out where the scarecrows sit
Just like punchlines between the cars
I know a place where a royal flush
Can never beat a pair
And even Thomas Jefferson
Is On The Nickel over there

So ring around the rosie, you're sleepin' in the rain
And you're always late for supper
And man you let me down, let me down again
I thought I heard a mockingbird, Roosevelt knows where
You can skip the light with grady tuck
On the Nickel over there

So what becomes of all the little boys
Who run away from home?
The world just keeps gettin' bigger
Once you get out on your own
So what becomes of all the little boys
The sandman takes you where
You'll be sleepin' with a pillowman
On the Nickel over there

So let's climb up through that button hole
And fall right up the stairs
I'll show you where the short dogs grow
On the Nickel over there


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by Mellow_Harsher, durruti36

On the Nickel Lyrics as written by Tom Waits

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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On the Nickel song meanings
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    @roger wilco I sang this song tonight to my 3yo boy while I was bouncing him to sleep on a yoga ball in our nice comfy house while it was raining outside. Thinking of him growing up like the little boys who live in Guatemala City's municipal garbage dump breaks my heart. I wish that I could bring them all into my home and feed them and give them a warm, dry place to sleep. As it is, I can only afford to foster one child and my wife and I are in the process of making that happen. Human suffering is a big bad problem that a little man like me can't solve solo. Good thing Jeff Bezos was able to earn his 30 billion dollars this last coupla months, you know? We live in a twisted ironic world that sustains an incredible amount of suffering on the part of millions of innocent children. The only answer I can offer is to ask other people to think about doing what they can to help...

    bradley101on May 19, 2020   Link

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