Homeless Persons' Memorial Day Top 100 Songs
​Song #59

Shawn Mullins
"Homeless Joe"

Shawn Mullins  is an American singer-songwriter who specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative, and Americana music. He is best known for the 1998 single "Lullaby", which hit number one on the Adult Top 40 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

"Homeless Joe" is a song written by Mullins and appears as the fourth track on Mullins' 12th studio album titled, Honeydew which was released in 2008. Mullins sings the song in a traditional rhythm and blues/gospel style. The song is about a homeless street performer who plays anything from Muddy Waters to B.B. King for some change. Though he has no CD, music video, flat screen TV or reality show, everyone down at the corner knows "Homeless Joe."

"Homeless Joe"
Lyrics

There is old homeless Joe
he's a one man show
you can catch him down
in Five Points where everybody knows
He can pick and sing you
anything from Muddy Waters to B.B. King
In his beat up old guitar case
is where the people toss their dough

Homeless Joe
Homeless Joe
Homeless Joe

Now Homeless Joe ain't got no car
He just kicks it down the street
with his bottleneck guitar
and Homeless Joe don't pay no rent
He just sleeps in the park in a cardboard tent

Homeless Joe
When he plays that thing
Homeless Joe
And he starts to sing
He's got a lot of soul
An angel without wings
Homeless Joe

Now some say Homeless Joe's just an old wino
'Cause he ani't got no compact disc, no music video
you won't see him on your flat screen, no reality TV show
you can find him down the corner, where everybody knows

Homeless Joe
When he plays that thing
Homeless Joe
and he start to sing
He's got a lot of soul
An angel without wings
Homeless Joe
​

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