Foley was born in Blue Lick, Kentucky. He began playing the guitar and the harmonica as a young boy and at age seventeen he won first prize in a statewide talent show. Ultimately he signed with Decca Records in 1941. His hit songs include Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy, Old Shep, Sugarfoot Rag, and Tennessee Saturday Night. Peace in the Valley, backed up by The Sunshine Boys, in 1951 became the first gospel record to sell a million copies, and One By One, a duet with Kitty Wells, became a chart topper in 1954.
For more than two decades, Foley was a major star of country music, selling in excess of twenty-five million records. During 1962-63, Foley was a regular cast member along with Fess Parker in the television series, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.
Red Foley was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1967. For his contribution to the music industry, Red Foley also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6225 Hollywood Blvd.
He died unexpectedly in 1968 in Fort Wayne, Indiana at the age of fifty-eight from a heart attack. He is interred in the Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.
His daughter from his second marriage to Judy Martin (nee: Eva Alaine Overstake) is Shirley Lee Foley who is married to singer Pat Boone. His granddaughter is singer Debby Boone.
Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy
Red Foley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you want to dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get 'em early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise and shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
Mmm, listen at him go
Mmm, don't that tickle him
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air
Here goes
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get 'em early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise and shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
The lyrics to Red Foley's song "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy" describe a skilled and charismatic shoe shiner that operates at the corner of Forth and Grand. The shoe shiner charges a nickel per shoe, and his work is so exceptional that even the oldest leather looks like new when he is finished. The shoe shiner sets up early, around nine o'clock, to catch the early risers who are feeling spry. His performance is accompanied by a boogie woogie rag that he pops with his energetic movements. When he shines shoes, people gather around and feel the urge to dance.
The lyrics to this song paint a vivid picture of a lively street corner where people are entertained by a talented shoe shiner. The shoe shiner is described as a "great big bundle of joy" who brings energy and excitement to the people who gather around him. This song has a cheerful rhythm and catchy melody that may be interpreted as an ode to the simple pleasures of life. It is a testament to the power of music and the joy that it can bring to people, even in the most ordinary and mundane situations.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you ever passed the corner of Forth and Grand?
Have you ever walked by the intersection of Forth and Grand streets?
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
Where a talented musician runs a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
Crowds of people gather and applaud his music
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He is a large source of happiness and positivity
He pops the boogie woogie rag
He plays a lively and rhythmic music genre called boogie woogie
The Chattanoogie shoe shine boy
This is his nickname, referencing the city of Chattanooga in Tennessee
He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He offers his services of shining one shoe for just a small sum of five cents
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
He possesses great skill and can make old leather look new again with his shining abilities
You feel as though you want to dance when he gets through
When he finishes shining your shoe, you feel so invigorated that you want to dance
It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
It's impressive that his rag doesn't tear due to the vigorous way he uses it
The way he makes it pop
He uses the rag to hit his shoe-shine box in rhythm, creating a popping sound
You ought to see him fan the air
You should witness him waving his arms in the air in a lively and entertaining manner
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop
He employs a fun and playful hopping dance move while he shines shoes
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He starts his workday at 9:00 a.m.
He likes to get 'em early when they're feelin' fine
He prefers to serve customers early in the morning when they are in good spirits
Everybody gets a little rise and shine
Everyone who visits him receives a slight boost in energy and cheer
Mmm, listen at him go
He is a highly skilled musician, and it's delightful to hear him perform
Mmm, don't that tickle him
He is having a great time, and his enjoyment is contagious
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Harry Stone, Jack Stapp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind