Put your shoes on Lucy...

Posted by Bob on April 25, 2008 at 21:10:

In Reply to: Put your shoes on Lucy... posted by Eileen Franklin on April 25, 2008 at 19:26:

: A phrase I heard repeatedly growing up was 'Put your shoes on Lucy, don't you know you're in the city'. It was usually employed at the end of a long car ride when you were to smarten yourself up before meeting relatives. My dad, now 83, said that it was his mother's phrase and that it had something to do with not appearing to be a hillbilly, i.e. unsophisticated when going to the big city. Has anyone any origin information about this phrase or shared experience?

It was a song, fairly popular many years ago.

From the Internet:

PUT YOUR SHOES ON, LUCY
(Hank Fort)

Nellie Lutcher - 1949
Russ Morgan & His Orch. (vocal: Rhythmaires) - 1949

Also recorded by:
Gracie Fields; Horace Heidt & His Musical Knights.

Got an invitation to visit Manhattan
With my highfalutin' kin
Sent off to the catalog to get some clothes
Felt so stylish from my head to my toes

Seen all the sights and I even did some flirtin'
I was doin' alright till my feet started hurtin'
So I kicked off my shoes when I thought they couldn't see
But they must have, 'cos this is what they all said to me

Put your shoes on, Lucy, don't you know you're in the city
Put your shoes on, Lucy, it's really such a pity
That Lucy can't go barefoot wherever she goes
'Cause she loves to feel the wiggle of her toes

Put your shoes on Lucy 'cause you're here in old New York
You'll get by alrighty if you let 'em hear you talk
All the city slickers love that southern drawl
So give 'em that "Honey chile" and "Hi, y'all"

Lucy, let the good things happen
Lucy, won't you stop that gapin'
How you act will be the death of me
Don't they have skyscrapers down in Tennessee

Put your shoes on, Lucy, even though they kinda pinch
Stop baulkin', you gotta do some walkin', it's a cinch
Use your party manners, you'll need them and how
Put your shoes on Lucy, you're a big girl now