Lyrics One Meatball - Dave Van Ronk

One Meatball

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.»