O Dem Golden Slippers

Representative Text

1 Oh, my golden slippers am laid away,
Kase I don't spect to wear 'em till my wedding day,
And my long tail'd coat, dat I loved so well,
I will wear up in the chariot in de morn;
And my long white robe, dat I bought last June,
I'm gwine to get changed, kase it fits too soon,
And de old gray hoss dat I used to drive,
I will hitch him to de chariot in de morn.

Chorus:
O dem golden slippers,
O dem golden slippers!
Golden slippers I'se gwine to wear,
bekase dey look so neat;
O dem golden slippers,
O dem golden slippers,
Golden slippers I'se gwine to wear
To walk de golden street.

2 Oh, my old banjo hangs on de wall,
Kase it ain't been tuned since 'way last fall;
But de darks all say we'll have a good time,
When we ride up in de chariot in de morn;
Dar's ole Brudder Ben an' his sister Luce,
Dey will telegraph de news to Uncle Bacco Juice,
What a great campmeetin' der will be dat day,
When we ride up in de chariot in de morn. [Chorus]

3 So, it's good-bye, children, I will have to go,
Whar de rain don't fall and de wind don't blow,
And yer ulster coats, why, yer will not need,
When yer ride up in de chariot in de morn.;
But yer golden slippers must be nice an' clean,
And yer age must be just sweet sixteen,
And yer white kid gloves yer will have to wear,
When yer ride up in de chariot in de morn. [Chorus]

Source: Seth Parker's Hymnal #197

Author: James A. Bland

James A. Bland was born in Flushing, NY in 1854. His father, one of the first African Americans to receive a college education, was appointed examiner in the U.S. Patent Office; the family then moved to Washington D.C., where James Bland attended school. He played the banjo as a teenager and He graduated from Howard University. He worked and toured with various minstrel groups in the United States and Europe, notable playing for Queen Victoria and the Prince of Wales, Grover Cleveland, and Robert E. Lee. He died in Philadelphia of tuberculosis in 1911. He wrote over 700 songs. "Carry Me Back to Ole Virginny" became the state song of Virginia in 1940. Dianne Shapiro from SongWriters Hall of Fame website (https://www.songhall.org/profile/J… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O, my golden slippers am laid away
Title: O Dem Golden Slippers
Author: James A. Bland
Language: English
Refrain First Line: O, dem golden slippers
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 4 of 4)
Page Scan

Jubilee Spirituals #171

TextPage Scan

Seth Parker's Hymnal #197

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Songs for Army and Navy #156

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The Service Song Book #199

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