Today’s song of the day is an American country-boogie song, “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy”, by Red Foley.
Fun Facts
- “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” praises the skill and personality of a boy shining shoes on a street corner.
- The song’s creation was credited to Harry Stone and Jack Stapp, though rumor has it that it was actually written by Fred Rose, who gave away the credits in exchange for a favor. It was published in 1950.
- Red Foley was the first person to record the song in November 1949, and it was so well-received that it became his signature song.
- The song was very popular in 1950, with a number of artists doing cover versions of it and quite a few making it to the charts, including the likes of Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Phil Harris.
- But it was Red Foley’s original rendition that was the most successful, making it right to the top of the Billboard charts early in 1950 and staying there for 13 weeks.
- The song also features the talents of pianist Owen Bradley, guitarist Grady Martin and drummer Farris Coursey. Coursey was responsible for the special effects and slapped his thighs to recreate the sound of the shoe shine boy’s rag popping. The very upbeat, joyous and rhythmic music captures the essence of the boy’s personality, referred to as “a little ball of rhythm… a great big bundle of joy”.
- Some sources have it that “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” became the first country song ever to sell more than a million copies.
Lyrics:
Have you ever passed the corner of Fourth and Grand?
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 wanna 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 up early when they’re feelin’ fine
Everybody gets a little rise ‘n shine
With the 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
Just listen to him fan the air
Here he goes!
He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they’re feelin’ fine
Everybody gets a little rise ‘n shine
With the great big bundle o’ joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy
0 Comments