One Meatball - Dave Van Ronk

A little man walked up and down

He found an eating place in town

He read the menu through and through

To see what fifteen cents could do

One meatball, one meatball

He could afford but one meatball

He told the waiter near at hand

The simple dinner he had planned

The guests were startled, one and all

To hear that waiter loudly call, «What?»

«One meatball, one meatball?

Hey, this here gent wants one meatball»

The little man felt ill at ease

He said, «Some bread, sir, if you please»

The waiter hollered down the hall

«You gets no bread with one meatball»

«One meatball, one meatball

Well, you gets no bread with one meatball»

The little man felt very bad

One meatball was all he had

And in his dreams he hears that call

«You gets no bread with one meatball»

«One meatball, and no spaghetti

One meatball

Well, you gets no bread with one meatball.»