Mark J. Halliday Poet Lyric

Notes About The Poem

This is somewhat autobiographical.  I was in the Army for 20 years.  While serving I did meet my wife in Paris, France (more of a hook-up than a courtship, but we've been together since 1989). 

Musically, I think this would make a good Country/Bluegrass song.

Corcoran is one of the primary brand names for military field and dress boots; their paratrooper dress boots were especially popular.  The Army wore black oxford shoes as pat of their dress uniforms. 

Wandering Shoes

I didn’t grow up wearin' no wandering shoes.
No, I didn’t grow up wearin' no wandering shoes.
Mostly I just stayed at home, didn’t have no urge to roam.
I didn’t grow up wearin' no wandering shoes.

I didn’t wanna leave my neighborhood.
No, I didn’t wanna leave my neighborhood.
But my friends married, moved away; no gal asked for me to stay.
I felt it time to leave my neighborhood.

(Chorus)

I didn’t loaf around in loafers,
But I snuck around in sneakers.
I marched around in Corc’rans lotsa klicks.
Spit-shined a dozen oxfords.
Once knew some secret passwords.
Now I’m slowly limping towards the River Styx.

I didn’t wanna travel round the world. 
No, I didn’t wanna travel round the world. 
Each three years I signed the lines, lived in Europe sev’ral times.
I kinda liked a trav'lin' round the world.

(repeat chorus)

I found I rather liked those wandering shoes.
I found I rather liked those wandering shoes.
Met a gal in Paris, France; we hooked up and took a chance.
Eventually I tossed those wandering shoes.

(repeat chorus to fade)

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Richard Lamoureux September 19, 2016 at 8:51 AM Clever! One of the best I have read. Congrats. Mark J. Halliday September 19, 2016 at 5:18 PM Thanks. Will have to check out the contest results.

Sunita U.D Palawon August 31, 2016 at 8:24 AM So amusing :D Congrats on your placing. Mark J. Halliday September 8, 2016 at 12:56 AM Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

Cheryl Hoffman June 28, 2016 at 7:55 PM Nice poem about going from a homebody, to traveler, to settling down sort of guy! :) Mark J. Halliday June 29, 2016 at 9:32 AM I actually had a verses in the middle about travelling before enlisting. Spent a few weeks on charter buses in 1976 during the US bicentennial celebrations. Later was an LDS missionary in France and Belgium. Mentioned both in verses, but thought it was somewhat of an overkill which diminished the impact of the rest of the song. Thanks for commenting.