Put My Little Shoes Away

A Memory of Betty Ann Barr

 

As retold by Doug Boilesen (2002), son of Betty Ann Barr Boilesen.

My grandparents didn't have a phonograph in the 1930's, but they did have a piano and my Grandma Barr played by ear. One song in particular stood out for my mom, partly because my grandmother sang it often and partly because of the words. When Grandma Barr chorded to it and sang the song "Put My Little Shoes Away" my mom always went outside if it was summer or put a pillow over her ears if it was winter. When asked why, she simply replied "because it was so sad."

Listen to this song at The Max Hunter Folk Song Collection Courtesy of Missouri State and Springfield-Greene County Public Library (1).

 

VERSE 1

Mother, come and bathe my forehead

For I'm growing very weak

Mother, let one drop of water

Fall upon my burn'n cheek

VERSE 2

Tell my loving little schoolmates

That I will no longer play

Give them all my toys, but

Mother Put my litle shoes away

I am going to leave you, Mother

So, remember what I say

O, do it will you please Mother

Put my little shoes away

VERSE 3

Santa Claus, he gave them to me

With a lot of other things

And I think he brought an angel

With a pair of golden wings

VERSE 4

Mother, I will be an angel

By perhaps another day

So, you will then, dearest Mother

Put my little shoes away

VERSE 5

Soon th baby will be larger

Then they'll fit his little feet

O, he'll look so nice and cunning

When he walks along th street

Now, I'm getting tired, Mother

So, I'll say to all, good-day

Please remember what I tell you

Put my little shoes away

 

LISTEN HERE for Hank Snow's Put My Little Shoes Away from his 1959 RCA Victor LP When Tragedy Struck.

 

 

(1) Put My Little Shoes Away Cat. #0668 (MFH #520) - As sung by Paralee Weddington, Busch, Arkansas on Februay 4, 1969.