Subject: Lyr Add: BAREFOOT BOY WITH BOOTS ON (J McCutcheon)
From:
Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 01:24 PM
This is more of a "lyric correction" than "lyric add". This is substantially the same song as in the DT as THE BAREFOOT BOY. That posting is missing two lines and some of the words are not as originally written. It also apparently lacks correct composer credits. Asa Martin, who also wrote "Hot Corn, Cold Corn", claimed to have written the song. This version is taken directly from John McCutcheon's "Barefoot Boy with Boots On" album. McCutcheon claims to have learned it directly from Asa Martin, so these lyrics should be accurate.
BAREFOOT BOY WITH BOOTS ON
Oh, the night was dark and cloudy
The moon was shining bright
The stars were casting burning rays
On the storm that raged that night
Lightning struck the cowshed
And the cows all chewed their cud
Moonlight set the prairie on fire
In the middle of the woods
Oh, the barefoot boy with boots on
Come a-shuffling down the street
His pants were full of pockets
And his boots were full of feet
He was born when he was a baby
His grandma's pride and joy
His only sister was a girl
And his brother was a boy
He never was a triplet
But he always was a twin
His legs were fastened to his knees
Just below his chin
And his feet were fastened to his ankles
Several inches from his shoulder
And when he grew up he became a man
And every day got older
He married him a woman
Who quickly became his wife
For you see he could not marry her
And maintain a single life
Her head was full of notions
And her mouth was full of tongue
They raised a dozen children
All born when they was young
Six boys, five girls
And then another child
They never tried to raise them right
Just let them grow up wild
And late in the evening
They'd send them off to bed
Not sure if they was living
And they wished that they was dead
The youngest was a baby
But the oldest was one first
The good one was the bad one
But the bad one was the worst
They never knew their ages
No, they never seemed to care
'Cause they knew they had a birthday
And it came 'round once a year
They never knew their father's age
But they always had a hunch
That he was born before their time
Was the oldest of the bunch
And when they died they could not speak
Their names they could not tell
The girls all went to heaven
And the boys all went to (sound effect, i.e. rap guitar top
***********
John McCutcheon adds the following verse which is not part of the original song. He says he borrowed it from "The Dying Fisherman's Lament" or "The Ravings of Sir Rupt". I also found the verse in the DT as part of "Ain't We Crazy" and "The Boardinghouse".
************
The organ peeled potatoes
Lard was rendered by the choir
When the parson rang the dishrag
Someone set the church on fire
"Holy smokes!" the preacher shouted
As he madly tore his hair
Now his head resembles heaven
For there'll be no parting there
|
sj
