It's a mighty long day, in the freight elevator

Say, "Hey there Dan, I'm gonna catch you later"

As you were taking up the cases

Of the man with alligator shoes

You can take it to the basement, ride it to the top

Punching out the floor numbers, hitting all the stops

Balling out the bell boy

For creasing up the racing news

Oh! The freight elevator, it's so good to ride

So far from the lobby on the other side

There's no sort of space, a stowaway can hide

And the sign on the wall says

"Just freight inside"

They've got a hot band in residence

Lights above the door

"Come in every evening and swing with Artie Shaw"

Seems the whole of 52nd street

Is packing out that floor so tight

They've got a young black vocalist, she's setting them on fire

Singing voice like velvet

Stretched out over wire

Gonna hire in extra waitresses

At least that's what I heard tonight

It's got fresh bed linen

For the 14th floor

And a crate of canned grapefruit

For the cold food store

Pair of high heel shoes

From a Denver man's door

And that young black vocalist

What's she riding for?

Oh! The freight elevator, it's so good to ride

So far from the lobby on the other side

There's no sort of space, a stowaway can hide

And the main elevator says

"No blacks inside"