Cat. #1490 (MFH #994) - As sung by Bill Baker, Saint Paul, Arkansas on October 27, 1973
VERSE 1
I can remember how proud I used t' be
When Dad an' Mother would buy new shoes for me
Now, that's the feeling we've all had
How new shoes would make you glad
But th best time, if you recall
When you wore no shoes at all
CHORUS:
Barefoot days, when we were just a kid
Barefoot days, O boy, th things we did
We'd go down to th shady brook
With a bent pin for a hook
We'd fish all day an' fish till night
But th darn ole fish refuse to bite
How we'd slide down some ole cellar door
We'd slide an' slide, till our pants got tore
You know, that slidin' down th cellar door
Make your clothes tear, an' you'll get a lot'a splinters
But you must'n tell where
O boy, what joy, we had in barefoot days
VERSE 2
We were so happy, till Sunday came along
Boy, that was one day, when ever'thing seemed wrong
All th stuff they give was starched
Off to church, we had to march
But no wonder we had th blues
Cause we had to wear our shoes
CHORUS:
Barefoot days, when we were just a kid
Barefoot days, O boy, th things we did
We'd go down to th shady brook
With a bent pin for a hook
We'd fish all day an' fish till night
But th darn ole fish refuse to bite
How we'd slide down some ole cellar door
Slide, an' slide, until our pants got tore
Have to go home an' stay in bed
Till Mother got busy with th needle an' thread
O boy, what joy, we had in barefoot days