Oh, Dem Golden Slippers
"'Oh, Dem Golden Slippers,' was written in 1879 as a minstrel song by James A. Bland, but it has since become a folk song and can be played on fiddle, too. These lyrics are closest to the original spelling…" –Nathan Wood
Oh, Dem Golden Slippers
Folk Song
Oh, my golden slippers am laid away,
Kase I don't 'spect to wear 'em till my weddin' day,
And my long-tail'd coat, dat I loved so well,
I will wear up in de chariot in de morn;
And my long white robe dat I bought last June,
I'm gwine to git changed kase it fits too soon,
And de ole grey hoss dat I used to drive,
I will hitch him to de chariot in de morn.
Chorus:
Oh, dem golden slippers!
Oh, dem golden slippers!
Golden slippers I'm gwine to wear,
Becase dey look so neat;
Oh, dem golden slippers!
Oh, dem golden slippers!
Golden slippers Ise gwine to wear,
To walk de golden street.
Oh, my ole banjo hangs on de wall,
Kase it ain't been tuned since way last fall,
But de folks* all say we will hab a good time,
When we ride up in de chariot in de morn;
Dars ole Brudder Ben and Sister Luce,
Dey will telegraph de news to Uncle Bacco Juice,
What a great camp meetin' der will be dat day,
When we ride up in de chariot in de morn.
(Chorus)
So, it's good-bye, children, I will have to go
Whar de rain don't fall or de wind don't blow,
And yer ulster coats, why, yer will not need,
When yer ride up in de chariot in de morn;
But yer golden slippers must be nice and clean,
And yer age must be just sweet sixteen,
And yer white kid gloves yer will have to wear,
When yer ride up in de chariot in de mornin'.
Notes
Originally "darks"
Comments
"…it is a favorite of the decidedly Philadelphia New Years tradition, The Mummer's Parade." –Gerald Bergen (on Mudcat)
A different version of this song was used in a commercial in the 1970's for the cereal "Golden Grahams". You may remember it! You can see it on YouTube here.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Nathan Wood for sharing this song with us!
