In the rock (and roll) community, Bill Monroe may be best known via one of Elvis Presley's earliest recordings at Sun Records, that of Monroe's 'Blue Moon of Kentucky'. Patsy Cline also made a highly regarded version of this song.
Little Red Shoes
Bill Monroe Lyrics
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For I'm growing very weak
Let one drop of water, Mother,
Fall upon my burning cheek
Go and tell my little playmates
That I never more will play
Give them all my toys, but Mother,
You will do this won't you Mother?
Please remember what I say
Give them all my toys, but Mother,
Put my little shoes away
Santa Claus he brought them to me
With a lot of other things
And I thought he brought an angel
With a pair of golden wings
Soon the baby will be larger
And they'll fit his little feet
Won't he look so nice and funny
As he walks upon the street
You will do this won't you Mother?
Please remember what I say
Give them all my toys, but Mother,
Put my little shoes away
The song "Little Red Shoes" by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys is a heart-wrenching ballad about a sick child who is on the verge of death. The lyrics describe the child's request to have their forehead bathed and to feel the relief of a drop of water cooling their burning cheek. The child then asks their mother to inform their playmates that they will no longer be able to join in their playing, and to give away all their toys, except for one thing, their little red shoes. The child's perception of the shoes, gifted by Santa Claus, is that they are angelic with their golden wings. The child requests that their shoes be put away in storage until they fit the feet of a new baby that is to come.
The poignant melody of the song lends itself to the raw emotions of the lyrics and grips listeners with a sense of sadness and loss. The child's acceptance of their fate and their desire to pass on their treasured red shoes is a symbolic representation of the transience of life and the hope we carry for the continuation of life with new experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Now, come and bathe my forehead, Mother
I am dying and want you to comfort me
For I'm growing very weak
My condition is deteriorating
Let one drop of water, Mother,
I am extremely thirsty and just want a few drops of water
Fall upon my burning cheek
My cheeks are hot and inflamed from my fever
Go and tell my little playmates
Inform my friends about my passing
That I never more will play
I will never play with them again
Give them all my toys, but Mother,
Distribute my playthings to my friends, but keep my shoes
Put my little shoes away
Keep my shoes for my baby brother
You will do this won't you Mother?
Please promise me you will take care of this
Please remember what I say
Do not forget my last wishes
Santa Claus he brought them to me
I received these shoes as a gift from Santa Claus
With a lot of other things
I received many other presents besides these shoes
And I thought he brought an angel
These shoes were so special, I thought they were brought by an angel
With a pair of golden wings
I imagined that the shoes had golden wings attached to them
Soon the baby will be larger
My baby brother will grow up soon
And they'll fit his little feet
The shoes will fit my brother when he is older
Won't he look so nice and funny
He will look adorable and amusing
As he walks upon the street
My little brother will walk around town wearing the shoes
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAMUEL ALLOYSIUS MITCHELL, CHARLES PRATT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind