Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet

Subject: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:27 PM

While skimming through a couple of books on American folksong,
I found a number of old songs that include insult lyrics about a woman's big feet.

My guess is that these 'big feet' putdowns were a shorthand way of expressing preference for city gals and city living as opposed to country living. And because many of these songs that I found were from late 19th African American sources, I believe that these big foot put-downs also reflect a desire to shuck off rural life that was too closely associated with the horrors & limitations of slavery.

In this thread I'll share some examples of these songs.

Do you know any lyrics from traditional or contemporary songs from whichever cultures that mention big feet? Are such songs always insults

Also, I've only found one example of insult lyrics about men's big feet. Do you know any?

And do you know any lyrics about women's small, dainty feet?
In contrast to the songs about big feet, aren't girls with small feet considered more desirable than their larger sole sisters?


Just wondering...

Azizi,
who proudly wears size 9 1/2 shoes

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:46 PM

Many of the verses that I found refer to feet "covering up the whole sidewalk" or "feet making a hole in the ground".

Here's two examples from Dorothy Scarborough "On The Trails Of Negro Folk Songs" {Folklore Associates Edition, 1963; originally published by Harvard University Press, 1925}

OL VIRGINNY NEVER TIRE {excerpt}
There is a gal in our town,
She wears a yallow striped gown.
And when she walks the streets aroun'
The hollow of her foot makes a hole in the groun'.
{p. 109}

****

GREAT BIG N----R SITTIN' ON A LOG {excerpt}
My gal , she's a big town talk,
Her foot vovers de whole sidewalk,
Her eyes like two big balls o' chalk,
Her nose is lak a long cornnstalk.
Sister Mary, you shall be free,
In de mawnin; you shall be free.
Po' mourner, you shall be free,
When de good Lawd set you free.
{p. 176}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:47 PM

Well, maybe this isn't an insult. But maybe it is. What do your think?

BUFFALO GALS {excerpt}
As I was lumb'ring down de street,
down de street, down de street,
A han'some gal I chanced to meet,
Oh, she was fair to view!

Chorus:
Buffalo gals, can't you come out tonight,
Can't you come out tonight,
Can't you come out tonght?
Buffalo gals, can't you come out ton-night,
And dance by de light ob de moon?

I axed her would she hab some talk.
Hab some talk, hab some talk.
Her feet covered up de whole sidewalk,
As she stood close to me.
-snip-

Dorothy Scarborough "On The Trails Of Negro Folk Songs" {Folklore Associates Edition, 1963; p. 113; originally published by Harvard University Press, 1925}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:51 PM

BROTHER BEN AND SISTER SAL {excerpt}

Ole Sis Sal's got a foot so big,
Dat she canin't wear no shoes an' gaiters.
So all she want is some red calico,
An' dem big yaller yam sweet taters."
-snip-

Thomas W. Talley "Negro Folk Rhymes" {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968, p. 47; originally published by The Macmillan Company, 1922}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 01:55 PM

Here's a rhyme dissin a man with big feet:

JOHNNY BIGFOOT

Johnny, Johnny Bigfoot!
Want a pair o' shoes?
Go kick two cows out'n deir skins.
Run Brudder, tell de news!

Thomas W. Talley "Negro Folk Rhymes" {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968, p. 93; originally published by The Macmillan Company, 1922}

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:01 PM

Though this song doesn't specifically mention big feet, I think it alludes to them. And it's a prime example of the city folk lookin down on people who come from the "backwoods" or retain those "backwoods" ways:


AUNT JEMIMA
Ole Aunt Jemima grow so tall,
Dat she couldn' see de groun'.
She stumped her toe, an' down she fell
From the Blackwoods clean to town.

W'en Aunt Jemima git in t0own,
An' seedem "tony" ways,
She natchully faint a' back she fell
To de Backwoods whar she stays.

Thomas W. Talley "Negro Folk Rhymes" {Kennikat Press Edition, 1968, p. 107; originally published by The Macmillan Company, 1922}

Subject: Lyr Add: YOUR FEET'S TOO BIG (A Benson, F Fisher)
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:03 PM

Back in the 50's my old man was a huge Ink Spots fan and I was just wising up to Fats Waller and BOTH had hits with this one!!! Several transcriptions are around and I KNOW neither sang "fuckin'" on the record but frankly it was probably sung that way at clubs.

BI>Your Feet's Too Big
Writers: Benson, Fisher

(Spoken over background opening bars)
Your feet's too big!

Two, three, four!
(
Who's that walkin' around here?
Mercy!
Sounds like a baby patter elephant to me!
I don't know why ev'rybody's goin'
I'm not gonna sit here!

(SUNG)
Say up in Harlem at a table for two,
There were four of us,
Me, your big feet and you.
From your ankles up you sure look sweet,
But from there down, there's just too much fuckin' feet!

Yeah, your feet's too big,
I don't want you 'cause your feets too big,
I hate you, yeah, your feets too big,
Yeah, I said baby, your feets are much too big.

(Da da doh da) - da doh da
(Where'd you get 'em?) - I got them.

Your gal she loves you, she thinks you're nice,
Got what it takes to be in paradise.
Takes a look at your face, likes your rig, boy,
Man, oh man. those things are too big.

Your feets too big,
I don't want you 'cause your feets too big
I hate you, your feets too big,
Yeh-yeh, I said your feets are much big.

Yeah, your paddle extremities are colossal,
To me you look like a fossil.
Well, you got me walkin' talkin' and squarkin'
'Cause your feets are much too big.

Yes, your feets too big, I don't want you,
Your feets too big, I hate you
Your feets too big.
Yeah, I said your feets are much too big,
Well, your feets too big,
Ah! Your feets too big,
Ow! Your Feets too big,
Baby, your feets are much too big

(Da da doh da) - da doh da
(Where'd you get 'em?) - I got them.
(Da da doh da) - da doh da
Hey!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:06 PM

There's a Fats Waller (I think) number "Your Feet's too Big".

I don't get the small-feet fetish at all.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 May 06 - 02:09 PM

Check above there Jack......I think we cross posted.....LOL....

Spaw

Subject: Lyr Add: DAISY ROOTS
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 May 06 - 11:51 AM

Azizi: It's not just in America that there are songs about big feet!
We have an old music hall song called DAISY ROOTS on exactly this theme. No race overtones, but definitely sexist!

My wife and I could tell you why,
But I never get annoyed about her old glass eye.
Her long tongue, it really is a treat
But I've been worrying about her feet.

'Cos they're not feet; they're yards and yards,
With corns that grow SO high.
When she goes out, for to walk around about,
All the pretty little youngsters cry:

Daisy, oh, Daisy Roots,
Must be a big shop where you buy your boots!
Oh dear, dear, dear Daisy,
To carry 'em around you can't be lazy.

If we all had feet like hers,
This world would be too small.
They tick like clocks. They give you shocks.
It's no wonder that the people call.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 21 May 06 - 01:48 PM

It would appear from This Thread that "My Darling Clemantine" had rather large feet.

CHEERS
Nigel

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: SINSULL
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:35 PM

Johnson Girls have "eentsy weentsy feet" and it's good, I guess.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:38 PM

That thread was a great read, Nigel!

Thanks for linking to it.

****

I remember reading and listing to a sound clip Alan Lomax made of this family singing a song about "Big Foot Reena [I think that's the woman's name but I may be misremembering}.

I've been searching for it but I can't find it online. Nor can I find the transcription that I made of it.

I believe the song went something like:

Have you seen Reena
Big foot Reena
Have you seen Reena
Big foot Reena
No I haven't seen Reena
Big foot Reena
and her daughter too.

-snip-

Does anyone know this song? If so, would you post the words and online or other source?

Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: RobbieWilson
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:41 PM

skinny malinky long legs, big banana feet
went tae the pictures and couldn'ae get a seat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:43 PM

Google helped me find this next one.

I knew the song "Erie Canal", but I didn't know this was one of its verses:

I've got a gal, she's Big Foot Sal
Best in a galley, I've heard tell.
So drop a tear for Big Foot Sal,
The best damn cook on the Erie Canal.

-snip-

http://ingeb.org/songs/ivegotam.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 21 May 06 - 02:49 PM

"skinny malinky long legs, big banana feet
went tae the pictures and couldn'ae get a seat"

Robbie, was/is that a children's taunt or was/is it part of a song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: GUEST,Auldtimer
Date: 21 May 06 - 03:12 PM

I believe "skinny malinky" also went to church and, pulled the buttons off his shirt and put them in the plate. Or, "pu'ed the but'ns aff his shirt an' pit them in the plate"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 21 May 06 - 03:42 PM

Being the impatient type, I answered one of my questions by using the Mudcat Lyrics & Knowledge Search engine.

Seems that these verses were [are?] old Scottish skipping rhymes.

Here's a thread on Skinny Malinky

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: GUEST,deni-C
Date: 21 May 06 - 04:48 PM

Insults? My sister tells me our mother who took a size two or three (UK) shoe, used to say this to her. Hands like feet, feet like plates of meat and shoes like the boxes they come in. My sister took around a size four and is really petite, but the insult still rankles after dozens of years!

deni

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: webfolk
Date: 21 May 06 - 04:53 PM

Not sure if 'Keep your feet still Geordie Hinny' is relevant but Geordie's feet certainly kept Bob awake all night whilst sharing a bed and perumably unseccesfully on the pull.

Geoff - webfolk

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Bert
Date: 22 May 06 - 02:48 PM

From My Gal's a Corker

She's got a pair of feet
Just like the English fleet

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 May 06 - 03:00 PM

Spaw:
I think that should be
"your pedal extremities are colossal"
but then, one never knows, do one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 22 May 06 - 07:21 PM

Sinsull - I saw this thread and thought about the Johnson Girls too, but why do they have great big boots and eentsy weensty feet?

Kitty

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 May 06 - 01:47 AM

The only thing that comes to mind is a song covered by Bob Dylan in the 80's, called "Ugliest Girl In The World". It's intended as a humorous song, and it's most unusual. I have no idea why he chose to record it, but I guess he liked the way it sounded or something.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Flash Company
Date: 23 May 06 - 10:45 AM

The Flat foot floogie with the floy floy......
As a schoolboy with flat feet in the 1940's you can't tell me anything about that one!

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 May 06 - 12:08 PM

When first I met my Cindy,
She stood there at the door.
Her shoes and stockings in her hand,
Her feet all over the floor.

(Remembered from my childhood.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 01:00 PM

Flat Foot Floogie HERE

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 May 06 - 02:08 PM

Ugliest Girl in the World is in the DT. Dylan was a co-author.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Flash Company
Date: 24 May 06 - 09:55 AM

I got a girl, she's ten feet tall,
Sleeps in the kitchen with her feet in the hall,
Eats pine trees,
Spits out kindlin'

But maybe that is only a big girl, not necaserily big feet

FC

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 24 May 06 - 10:14 AM

Flash Company, I think that songs about tall gals, and tall woman may or may not have big feet.

But here's one example from an old Mudcat thread:

Subject: RE: Does Sarah ring a bell?
From: The Walrus at work - PM
Date: 15 Jul 02 - 08:35 AM

It made me think of:

Mary, Mary (TUNE: Daisy Belle)

Mary, Mary, lived with her aunt in Kew,
Big and hairy, she stood about six foot two.
I told her we'd never marry
She changed her name to Harry
Now her big feet, hey pound the beat
'Cos she's one of our "Boys in Blue".

I think I'd better sneak away quietly.
Walrus

thread.cfm?threadid=49543#748234

I don't get Walrus' comment. Maybe if I read the entire thread I'd understand why he had to sneak away quietly. But maybe you had to be there.

:o)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: Azizi
Date: 24 May 06 - 10:23 AM

Here's another Mudcat post that mentions big feer:

Subject: Lyr Add: GOING DOWN (Don Nix)
From: Sorcha - PM
Date: 10 May 01 - 11:43 PM

Going Down

by Nix
from various albums

I'm goin' down, down, down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down, down, down
I got my big feet in the window, my head is on the ground

Let me down and closed that box car door
Let me down and closed that box car door
I'm going back to Chattanooga and sweep up so sorry's floor

I'm goin' down, down, down, down, down, down
I'm goin' down, down, down, down, down, down
I got my big feet in the window, my head is on the ground

from Harry's Blues lyrics on line

thread.cfm?threadid=34145#460159

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: alison
Date: 25 May 06 - 02:02 AM

slightly different version to one mentioned above...

in Belfast we sang

skinny malink melodeon legs, big banana feet
went to the doctors and couldn't get a seat
when he got a seat, he fell fast asleep
skinny malink melodeon legs, big banana feet

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: kendall
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:47 AM

In upper NY state there was a musician named "Daddy Dick" and he sang a song called TEACHING MCFADDEN TO WALTZ. I've never heard anyone else sing it. His feet were too big, and in his sleep he was trying to waltz, and that proved fatal for the foot board of the bed.

Subject: Lyr Add: LEARNING MCFADDEN TO WALTZ
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:32 AM

From The Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music:

LEARNING MCFADDEN TO WALTZ.
M. F. Carey, 1890.

1. Clarence McFadden he wanted to waltz,
But his feet wasn't gaited that way,
So he saw a professor and stated his case,
And said he was willing to pay.
The professor looked down in alarm at his feet
As he viewed their enormous expanse,
And he tacked on a five to his regular price
For learning McFadden to dance.

CHORUS: One, two, three! Balance like me.
You're quite a fairy, but you have your faults.
While your left foot is lazy, your right foot is crazy,
But don't be unaisy. I'll learn you to waltz.

2. He took out McFadden before the whole class
And he showed him the step once or twice,
But McFadden's two feet got tied into a knot.
Sure, he thought he was standing on ice.
At last he broke loose and struck out with a will,
Never looking behind or before,
But his head got so dizzy he fell on his face
And chewed all the wax off the floor.

3. McFadden soon got the step into his head,
But it wouldn't go into his feet.
He hummed "La Gitana" from morning till night,
And he counted his steps on the street.
One night he went home to his room to retire
After painting the town a bright red.
Sure he dreamt he was waltzing and let out his foot
And he kicked the dash-board off the bed.

4. When Clarence had practiced the step for a while
Sure he thought that he had it down fine
He went to a girl and he asked her to dance
And he wheeled her out into the line
He walked on her feet and he fractured her toes
And he said that her movement was false
Sure the poor girl went round for two weeks on a crutch
For learning McFadden to waltz.

[There was a 1911 short film called Teaching McFadden to Waltz, and in 1912 the sheet music was reissued under that title.

[Shirley Temple sang TEACHING MCFADDEN TO WALTZ in the 1939 film "Susanna of the Mounties," in which she taught Randolph Scott to waltz.]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Songs about Big Feet
From: catspaw49
Date: 26 May 06 - 10:00 AM

Daddy Dick?

Yeah, well I suppose if all is functioning properly, they all are.

Spaw