A' Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed

Well, did you ever sleep at the foot of the bed
When the weather was whizzin' cold
When the wind was a howlin' round the house
And the moon was yellow as gold
And you give your good warm mattress up
To Aunt Lizzie and Uncle Fred
How too many kinfolks on a bad night
And you went to the foot of the bed

Well, I could always wait 'til the old folks ate
And eat the leaves with grace
And the teacher could keep me after school
I'd still have a smile on my face
I could wear the big girls' worn out clothes
Or let sister have my sled
But it always did get my nanny goat
To have to sleep at the foot of the bed

It was fine enough when the kinfolks came
And the kid brought brand-new games
You could see how fat all the old folks was
And learn all the babies' names
Had biscuits, custard and chicken pie
We all got Sunday fed
But I always knew when nighttime come
I was headed for the foot of the bed

Now they say some folks don't know what it is
To have company all over the place
To wrestle for cover on a winter night
With a big foot sittin' in your face
Or a cold toenails scratchin' your back
And the footboard scrubbin' your head
Well, I'll tell the world you ain't lost a thing
But a sleepin' at the foot of the bed

Well, I've done it over and over again
In this land of the brave and the free
And in this all fired battle of life
Well, it's left its mark on me
For I'm always scratching around at the foot
Instead of forgin' ahead
And I don't think it's caused from a doggone thing
But sleepin' at the foot of the bed