ON THE NICKEL

sticks and stones will break my bones but I always will be true
and when your mama's dead and gone I'll sing this lullaby just for you
and what becomes of all the little boys who never comb their hair
well they're lined up all around the block on the nickel over there

so you better bring a bucket • there's a hole in the pail
and if you don't get my letter then you know that I'm in jail
and what becomes of all the little boys who never say their prayers
well they're sleeping like a baby on the nickel over there

and if you chew tobacco and wish upon a star
I'll show you where the scarecrow sits just like punchlines between the cars
and 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 sleeping in the rain
and you're always late for supper • and man you let me down, you let me down again
I thought I heard a mocking bird • 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
well the world just keeps getting bigger once you get out on your own
so here's to all the little boys • the sandman takes you where
you'll be sleeping with the pillowman on the nickel over there

so climb up through that button hole
and fall right up the stairs
and I'll show you where the short dogs grow on the nickel over there

                                                                        tom waits