The Barefoot Boy With Boots On
Composer(s): Asa Martin
Performer(s): John McCutcheon



Oh, the night was dark and stormy
And the moon kept shining bright
The stars cast burning rays down
On the storm that raged that night
The lightning struck the cowshed
And the cows all chewed their cuds
The moonlight set the prairie afire
In the middle of the woods

Oh, the barefoot boy with boots on
Came a-crawling down the street
His pants were filled with pockets
And his boots were filled with 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 one of triplets
That came of being twins
His legs were fastened to his knees
Just below the shins
His arms were fastened to his neck
Several inches from his shoulder
When he was grown, he was a man
And every year got older

At last he married a woman
Who quickly became his wife
He could not stay single
And lead a married life
His wife was full of notions
And her mouth was full of tongue
She raised a dozen children
All born when they were young

Six girls and five boys
And then another child
They never tried to tame them
Just let them all go wild
The youngest was the baby
And the oldest was born first
The good one was the very best
And the mean one was the worst

They never knew their ages
And they did not seem to care
They knew they had a birthday
Coming to them every year
They never knew their father's age
But they always had a hunch
That he was born before their day
And was the oldest of the bunch

And when they died, they could not speak
And their names they could not tell
And the girls all went to Heaven
And the boys all went to...