I hardly had a bellyful Never knew a new bicycle Hand-me-down books and shoes They brought the yule tides in July
I rode a bus, a train and sometimes Strolling for miles to a movie show Singing a song "Shoobedoo" While birds and rich folks flew right on by
But we got by Lord knows we got by
Winter wishes wait till June We brightened July with that hot dog fun Tell your mama you're with Sue You bring the beans and I'll find the wine Them neon lights were bright till 2:00 And sneaking back home with this girl named Jo I hurried down to say " do" And stared my first man-child in the eye
But we got by Lord knows we got by
And now baby's got his bellyful And finally here's that new bicycle Working, praying, June to June And mama's got LA gleaming in her eye
And we got by Lord knows we got by
You see we kept on walking and talking, hawking Ooing, cooing, wooing Loving, tugging, hugging, rubbing Sugging, fugging, laying, praying, swaying Letting, fretting, begetting, lying Flying, trying, sighing, dying.