Tan Shoes & Pink Shoelaces
Dodie Stevens Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now I′ve got a guy and his name is Dooley
He's my guy and I love him truly
He′s not good lookin', heaven knows
But I'm wild about his crazy clothes

He wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh

He takes me deep-sea fishing in a submarine
We got to drive-in movies in a limousine
He′s got a whirly-birdy and a 12-foot yacht
Ah, but thats-a not all he′s got

He's got tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Now Dooley had a feelin′ we were goin' to war
So he went out and enlisted in a fightin′ corps
But he landed in the brig for raisin' such a storm
When they tried to put ′em in a uniform

He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh

Now one day Dooley started feelin' sick
And he decided that he better make his will out quick
He said
"Just before the angels come to carry me
I want it down in writin' how to bury me."

A′wearin tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Give me tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band

Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh





And a big Panama with a purple hat band!!

Overall Meaning

The song "Tan Shoes & Pink Shoelaces" by Dodie Stevens is a fun and upbeat tune that tells the story of a unique and quirky man named Dooley through the eyes of the singer. The lyrics describe how the singer is in love with Dooley despite his unconventional looks and fashion sense. Dooley wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces, a polka dot vest, and a big Panama hat with a purple hat band. The singer emphasizes that it is not his looks that she is wild about, but his crazy clothes.


The song also describes the adventures that the singer and Dooley go on, such as deep-sea fishing in a submarine and going to drive-in movies in a limousine. However, the story takes a turn when Dooley enlists in the military during wartime but ends up in trouble for causing a disturbance when they try to make him wear a uniform. The song concludes with Dooley's request that he be buried in his unique and quirky clothes.


Overall, the song celebrates the idea of being true to oneself and embracing individuality and quirkiness rather than conforming to societal norms. It sends the message that what truly matters is the person underneath the clothes and that it is the personality and adventures that make someone unique, not their outward appearance.


Line by Line Meaning

Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley
I'm now in a relationship with a guy named Dooley


He's my guy and I love him truly
I love Dooley deeply


He's not good lookin', heaven knows
Dooley's appearance is not his strong suit


But I'm wild about his crazy clothes
I am attracted to Dooley's unusual and unique fashion sense


He wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces
Dooley wears tan shoes that have pink laces


A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
He also wears a vest with polka dots


Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
He repeatedly wears shoes with the pink laces


And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Additionally, he always wears a big Panama hat with a purple band around it


He takes me deep-sea fishing in a submarine
Dooley takes me on adventurous dates like deep-sea fishing in a submarine


We got to drive-in movies in a limousine
We also go to drive-in movies in an extravagant limousine


He's got a whirly-birdy and a 12-foot yacht
Dooley owns a helicopter and a 12-foot yacht


Ah, but that's a not all he's got
However, Dooley has more to offer than just his possessions


Now Dooley had a feelin' we were goin' to war
Dooley had a premonition that there may be a war


So he went out and enlisted in a fightin' corps
He joined the military in preparation for it.


But he landed in the brig for raisin' such a storm
Dooley got imprisoned because of his disruptive behavior


When they tried to put 'em in a uniform
He refused to wear a standard military uniform


He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
Dooley insisted on wearing his favorite tan shoes with pink shoelaces


A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
He was also adamant about wearing his polka dot vest


He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
Dooley cared deeply about his unique fashion sense even during his military service


And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Just like his shoes, he wanted to be buried wearing his signature Panama hat with a purple band around it




Writer(s): Hank Williams, Sr.

Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@bhappy2023

Just found this song and I'm in love with it:)😊 Someone listening to this song in 2024?

@mikemiller8975

Watchn everyday❤😊

@marktemsic485

We are..!

@Quinn.no.dip.u.numbnut

Me

@mikemiller8975

Take out still ❤ love hear life❤

@jpkimmer

In 1959 I was in the 2nd grade. There was a talent contest at our school. The prize was a set of classroom books. My teacher got together with my mother and entered me and fellow classmate, Ida Mae Melton in the contest. Mother made the complete outfit from the hat, vest, to the pink shoe laces. Ida sang the song as I danced across the stage behind her. We won the contest.

@claudiov5554

Cisco Pike nice memories !

@epiphany_nights8460

I wasn’t even born

@sheepbeepbeep

so cute !!!! im glad you won! its neat you got to live during such an iconic period of time!

@theshellacstation78

That is so cool! Well, it might be a bit late now, but congratulations on winning. Lol

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