Louie / Don't Give Up On Me

Lyric:
I was in this little delicatessen shop in New York City when this old man came in. On his face was some three-days' growth of beard and the lines of sixty-odd years. His pants were as shiny as his coat was ragged. Hair uncombed - shoes unshined. But he walked up to the counter and he said, "I'd like one tuna fish sandwich - on rye bread - and I'd like for you to take that big knife you've got there and cut that half sandwich half in two - 'Cause half's for me - and half's for Louie. Now I don't want you to use your regular tuna - I want you to open a brand new can - and I'll pay for it. Use your freshest rye bread - lettuce and mayonnaise - and then take that big knife you've got up there - and cut that sandwich half in two - 'Cause half's for me - and half's for Louie." Well the man behind the counter - he looked at me and I could see that he was wondering the same thing I was - if Louie was just the product of too many rummy nights - or a ghost lost in time in a cloudy mind - but he started to make the sandwich and the old man said, "I'd like a pickle too - that big one right there. And I'd like for you to take that big knife and cut that pickle half in two - 'cause half's for me - and half's for Louie." Well the man behind the counter, he made a sandwich and he cut it half intwo and put it into a paper sack - along with the pickle. And as the old man counted out the last of his change, in thru the door came another old man. The same ragged cout - the same shine on his pants - the same grume of time. And when the first old man saw him, his eyes lit up - and he went over to him and put his arm around him. And he said, "Do you know what I've got in this sack? I've got one tuna fish sandwich - one rye bread - and a pickle. And you know what? Half's for me and half's for you - Louie - 'cause you're my friend" -

When it seems your dreams have fallen in their tracks
When you're down that one-way street with no way to get back
When all you see is sorrow and your need is sympathy
When the world gives up on you - don't give up on me

When the sea is stormy and there seems no way across
When you're in the lost and found and no one knows you're lost
When you're bound and goin' down with no way to get free
When the worl gives up on you - don't give up on me

Chorus:
For I'll be there to take a share of the pain and misery
When the tears are more than you can bear
The one who cares is me
When you're down in the dungeon
And you swear they've lost they key
When the world gives up on you - don't give up on me

Words and music: Dick Feller & Vic Stoffer  © Sony/ATV Songs LLC Tree Publishing