Lyr Req: Little shoes with soles all ragged

29 Oct 01 - 12:09 PM (#581997)
Subject: Little shoes with soles all ragged
From: GUEST,[e-mail]

Anyone know of this? My mother is looking for a song her father sung to her that always brought tears to his eyes. This is what she can remember:

little soles with shoes all ragged, by the bed where our boy used to lay He has gone from our home--left us here all alone......?

If you know more of this song, or the title, please respond.

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29 Oct 01 - 03:59 PM (#582199)
Subject: Lyr Add: TWO LITTLE SHOES AND A RINGLET OF HAIR
From: Lin in Kansas

Hmmm. This was the subject of many sentimental songs in the late 1800s, all with pretty similar words. There's one in the DT called Put My Little Shoes Away.

A search of the American Memory, Music for the Nation site click shows 15 hits, some of which are so close they appear to be the same song with a different name. Here's the one on that list which seems to be closest to what you're looking for.

Lin

Two Little Shoes and a Ringlet of Hair

Words By Miss M.T. Shelhamer

Music by C.P. Longley

Copyright 1882 by C.P. Longley

Two little shoes uncomely and worn,
Two little shoes so tattered and torn,
Two little shoes just out at the toes,
Treasures how precious oh! nobody knows,
For these bring a vision of two little feet,
So chubby and soft, so dainty and sweet,
And a dear little form, so perfect and white,
In robes pure and fleecy, all radiant with light.

CHORUS:
Two little shoes and a ringlet of hair,
Cherished so fondly, handled with care,
Dear little treasures; that hold us with love,
Drawing us nearer, our darling above.

Two stary [sic] eyes come fresh to my view,
Beautiful eyes, reflecting heav'n's blue,
Sweet loving face so sunny and fair,
Mother's lov'd darling with bright golden hair,
Two ruby lips like the heart of a rose,
And other new beauties doth sweetly disclose,
Two dimpled hands as fair to our sight,
As pictures of beauty in heaven's silver light.

CHORUS

Why fade away dear child from my sight,
Fade like the flowers in one summer night,
Leaving us naught, oh darling so fair,
But two little shoes and a ringlet of hair.
These are our treasures of value untold,
More priceless than jewels, more precious than gold
While o'er them we bow, in deep fervent prayer,
As though our love'd darling in beauty was there.

CHORUS

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