Barefoot Till After The Frost (Jim Lauderdale)

It was cold in the valley in early October of 19 and 34
I was moving the cows into the barn
And stood where they’d laid down before
Just to warm up my feet from the rain and the sleet
From the wind whipping down through the hills
It’s been a long time but these memories of mine
I hold them dearly still

Tryin’ to get through that Great Depression
No counting all we had lost
New shoes were out of the question
We were barefoot ’til after the frost
Barefoot ’til after the frost

One pair of shoes for church and for school
That’s all we had for the year
Ordered by mother for a couple of dollars
Soles of cheap cardboard from Sears
If you walked through wet grass then those soles wouldn’t last
Dad had to go sew ‘em back on
He did the same for the neighbors’ poor children
’Til finally the weather would warm

Tryin’ to get through that Great Depression
No counting all we had lost
New shoes were out of the question
We were barefoot ’til after the frost
Barefoot ’til after the frost

Surviving was mostly what life was about
Standing right there where the milk cows ran out
Feet just as red as a gobbler’s snout
Barefoot ’til after the frost

Tryin’ to get through that Great Depression
No counting all we had lost
New shoes were out of the question
We were barefoot ’til after the frost
Barefoot ’til after the frost