I Was Barely Getting By

[Verse]
Well, I was walking down fourty-second street
On a hot and steamy night
Sweat was pouring down my face
I used to black out for a light
Little shoeshine boy said - hello, Cas!
It seems you've run out of luck
And the wino on the corner mumbled
Hey, mister, can you spare a buck?

[Chorus]
But I was barely getting by
Yes, I was barely getting by

[Verse]
And this Al Pachino look-alike
Struck a drum up my nose
He said - welcome to New York, punk
Kinda scary, I suppose
And as I threw my hands up in the air
I kicked him in the balls
He fell face down in the gutter
I thought - how the big and mighty fall

[Chorus]
'Cause I was barely getting by
Yes, I was barely getting by

[Verse]
Then there was one like a plum in the corner shop
Came to my rescue
She's been eyeing me for a couple of days, she said
Can I spend the night with you?
As I took her back to my dingy flat
On third and twenty-nine
I was amazed how such a crappy day
Could turn out really fine!

[Chorus]
'Cause I was barely getting by
Yes, I was barely getting by