Golden Slippers

This is an online fiddle lesson for the old time tune "Golden Slippers."

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Genre: Old Time, Bluegrass, Gospel
Skill Level: Beginner, Intermediate
Key of D

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Video #1: Here is a video of me playing and singing the old time tune "Golden Slippers."

"Golden Slippers" is a popular song commonly sung in the 19th century. The song, penned by African-American James A. Bland in 1879, is considered an American standard today. It is particularly well known as a bluegrass instrumental standard.

A minstrel show song set in the style of a spiritual, the song is apparently a parody of the spiritual "Golden Slippers", popularized after the American Civil War by the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Today "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers" is often referred to simply as "Golden Slippers", further obscuring the original spiritual.

source: wikipedia

Golden Slippers

Verse 1
Oh, my golden slippers are laid away
'Cause I don't expect to wear ‘em ‘til my wedding day
And my long tailed coat, that I love so well
I’ll wear up in the chariot in the morn
And my long white robe that I bought last June
I'm goin' to get changed 'cause it fits too soon
And the old grey horse that I used to drive
I will hitch him to the chariot in the morn

chorus:
Oh, them golden slippers, Oh, them golden slippers
Golden slippers I'm goin' to wear because they look so neat
Oh, them golden slippers, Oh, them golden slippers
Golden slippers I'm goin' to wear to walk the golden street

Verse 2:
Oh, my old banjo hangs on the wall
'Cause it ain't been tuned since way last fall
But the folks all say we'll have a good time
When we ride up in the chariot in the morn
There's ol' brother Ben and his sister, Luce
They will telegraph the news to uncle Bacco Juice
What a great camp meetin' there will be that day
When we ride up in the chariot in the morn

Verse 3:
So, it's good-bye, children I will have to go
Where the rain don't fall and the wind don't blow
And your ulster coats, why, you will not need
When you ride up in the chariot in the morn
But your golden slippers will be nice and clean
And your age will be just sweet sixteen
And your white kid gloves you will have to wear
When you ride up in the chariot in the morn