dick greenhaus

A-SLEEPIN' AT THE FOOT OF THE BED
Words by Luther Patrick, music by Happy Wilson, ©1949.
As recorded by Little Jimmy Dickens

Did you ever sleep at the foot of the bed when the weather was a-whizzin' cold,
When the wind was a-whistlin' around the house, and the moon was yeller as gold?
You'd give your good warm mattress up to Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Fred.
Too many kinfolks on a bad night, so you went to the foot of the bed.

I could always wait till the old folks et and eat the leavin's with grace.
The teacher could keep me after school; I'd still have a smile on my face.
I could wear the big boys' worn-out clothes, let sister have my sled,
But it always did get my nanny goat to sleep at the foot o' the bed.

It was fine enough when the kinfolks come, an' the kids brought brand-new games.
You could see how fat all the old folks was, and learn all the babies' names.
Had biscuits and custard and chicken pie; we all got Sunday fed,
But I knowed dern well when nighttime come, I was headin' for the foot o' the bed.

They say some folks don't know what it is havin' comp'ny all over the place,
To wrestle for cover on a winter night with a big foot settin' in your face,
Or a cold toenail just scratchin' your back and the footboard scrubbin' your head.
I'll tell the world you ain't lost a thing, never sleepin' at the foot o' the bed.

I've done it over and over again in this land of the brave and the free,
And in this all-fired battle of life, it's left its mark on me;
For I'm always a-strugglin' around at the foot, instead of forgin' ahead,
And I don't think it's caused from a doggone thing but sleepin' at the foot o' the bed.