My folks were small- time grifters yeah
And counter fitters too
They never did the kind of things
That most kids' parents do
Most fathers make a living
Keeping books or pushing broom
But Mom and Dad made homemade dough
Right in our living room
But when the heat got too intense
They took it on the lamb
My father left a note that said
Be better than I am
Then Jerry's clan across the hall
Stepped in to save the day
They took me in and raised me right
And that is why I say
That he's the needle I'm the thread
He's the butter I'm the bread
He's the fruit and I'm the peel
He's Achilles I'm the heel
Yeah he's my brother through- and- through
Like the Marks the Wrights the Grim
Yeah you can't have tea without the two
And you can't have me if you don't have him
Alright back to work
Don't you wanna hear Jerry's half of the story
Gotta give the people what they want
My folks were in a business too
The business we call show
The house was full of hoofers
We were strictly S R O
They taught me every time- step
Then I shuffled off to school
But on the south side of Chicago
No one loved this dancing fool
The gangster kids all knocked me down
And made off with my lunch
'Cause I was taught to buck and wing
But not to learn to punch
But then Joe here had a brainstorm
When he saw I couldn't fight
I played the odds against him
And we ate ice cream every night
Yeah he's the bait and I'm the hook
I'm the goose and he's the cook
He's the beans and he's the gas
I'm the bulls and I'm the brass
You can't break up a winning team
Like that crutch and Tiny Tim
They say you can't have a ball without the shoe
And you can't have me if you don't have him
Oh when we play it's just a fact
Our music fills the air
It's true that opposites attract
And so we make a perfect pair
'Cause I'm the third and he's the root
That's the place all chords begin
We're two of a kind if you're color blind
Separate mothers but we're brothers
Under the skin
So what more can we tell ya' folks
We're partners 'til the end
It's nice to know my brother here
Is also my best friend
And when this duet's over
And the music's growin' dim
As the undertaker starts his spiel
Please remind him we're a package deal
'Cause you can't have Verve without the Bim
And you can't have me
If you don't have him
Yeah you can't have me if you don't have him
