It was forty or fifty years ago 
A big shot played with time 
Mister Walker held the door 
And both kept cord and line 
Watched and checked on every single day 
Building his own special cars 
His very special way 
Ooh the new soft shoe 
Ooh the new soft shoe he hand 
And then walking through a southern moa 
I saw a shoeshine stand 
A man was talking to a crowd 
Holding slippers in his hands 
Don't you know the same thing happens 
Each and every day 
Did you ever hear a song 
That's hard to even play 
Ooh the new soft shoe 
Ooh the new soft shoe in hand 
Then a color TV broadcast 
Snuck from New Orleans 
Showed me one more man who spoke 
And wore bright blue and green 
When you saw him talk his way 
Was when he showed his claws 
And spoke to people every day 
Just to get applause 
Ooh the new soft shoe 
Ooh the new soft shoe yeah 
Hoooo 
Ooh the new soft shoe 
Ooh the new soft shoe yeah