Pink Shoe Laces
Dodie Stevens Original 1959 Hit Song
& Two Amazing Videos.
Pink Shoe Laces was a cute #3 hit song for 13 year old Dodie Stevens in 1959.
Forty years later she performs with her daughter in a 1999 special called "Rock-n-Roll Graffiti" and...WOW!
This lady is still HOT and everyone singing is just having a good time with her.
I remember the song when it came out as I was a teenager at the time.
I originally thought the song was kind of goofy until you listened real close to those oldies music lyrics.
Which Dooley Do You Remember?
Toward the end of 1958, a few months before Dodie's song became popular, The Kingston Trio had taken a story about the hanging of a condemned man named "Tom Dooley" to the top of the charts.
Suddenly, this other cool cat named "Dooley," a dude with tan shoes and pink shoelaces, and a girlfriend named Dodie, appeared on the music scene.
I liked Dodie's guy better. He wasn't mean like Tom, he just dressed loud.
You may remember Carl Perkins had established a fashion trend with "Blue Suede Shoes," but Dodie's guy went way beyond as she described his cool wardrobe with this verse...
"a polka dot vest and man oh man, he wears tan shoes with pink shoe laces and a big panama with a purple hat band!"
Some might say anybody that dressed that way had to be named after a guy that was lynched:-)
Not me...I remember how loud I dressed when Elvis appeared on the scene so I'm sticking with Dodie's guy, Dooley.
It really was a Cool song but all these years I've wondered about that 12-foot yacht, and a guy that would take a girl deep sea fishing in a submarine....
Before you watch Dodie and her daughter perform the song on this 1999 "Rock-n-Roll Graffiti" special, let's take a look at Dodie when she sang this cute song back in 1959.
You're gonna love this original black and white video showing how teens communicated in the 50s.
This was an exciting time when you actually talked to your girlfriend/boyfriend about dating and the world of texting was decades away.
Pink Shoe Laces - Dodie Stevens remains an amazing talent.
Dodie Stevens voice was mature beyond her thirteen years. She recorded Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight, in answer to Elvis' number one song.
The song charted #60 on the Billboard Hot 100 in December 1960. She also recorded a Christmas song that is still played every year during the holidays.
"Merry Merry Christmas Baby" (set to the tune of The Tune Weavers' "Happy, Happy Birthday Baby") was her contribution to the 1960 holiday season.
She really did have a nice voice but will always be remembered for Tan Shoes and Pink Shoe Laces.
Enjoy this well done second video of this all time classic. Dodie performed on this special when she was fifty three and just look at her. She's still having fun.
Pink Shoe Laces lyrics
Written by Mickie Grant
Recorded by 13 year old Dodie Stevens
Charted #3 in 1959
Now I've got a guy and his name is Dooley
He's my guy and I love him truly
He's not good lookin'...heaven knows
But I'm wild about his crazy clothes
He wears tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
He takes me deep-sea fishing in a submarine
We go to drive-in movies in a limousine
He's got a whirly-birdy and a 12-foot yacht
Ah...but thats-a not all he's got
He's got tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Now Dooley had a feelin' we were goin' to war
So he went out and enlisted in a fightin' corps
But he landed in the brig for raisin' such a storm
When they tried to put 'em in a uniform
He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
He wanted tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Now one day Dooley started feelin' sick
And he decided that he better make his will out quick
He said...
"Just before the angels come to carry me
I want it down in writin' how to bury me."
A wearin' tan shoes with pink shoelaces
A polka dot vest and man, oh, man
Give me tan shoes with pink shoelaces
And a big Panama with a purple hat band
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh
And a big Panama with a purple hat band!
Return to Golden Oldies main page
Return Home.
The Duke of Earl Story
Vee-Jay records were responsible for some great music in the 50s and 60s and "Duke of Earl" was one of their mega hits. However, Gene Chandler almost prevented this from happening until Vee-Jay stepped in and offered him a choice. Read more ...
FTC Disclosure: If you make a purchase via a link on this site, I may receive a small commission on the transaction - at no additional cost to you. Thank you!
It was 1958 and Short Shorts by The Royal Teens was #3 on the charts. Read their remarkable story here.
Girl Watching - Our Most Popular American Pastime.
Poetry in Motion is a song written about our most popular American pastime, girl watching. A fun "Soda Shop" song that would send Johnny Tillotson to fame and fortune.Read more.
Tears on My Pillow
1958 Doo-Wop classic!
Tears on My Pillow is another great Doo-Wop classic with lyrics you can understand and appreciate. This golden oldie has beautiful words of sadness and longing for beginning again. The people remembered and what a wonderful welcome they got! Read more...
Tucked between the 50s Doo Wop groups and the mid-60s British invasion was the phenomenon known as the Girl Groups. Read More.
The End - Earl Grant
A truly beautiful song with words that reflect the long lasting meaning of love.
"But just tell me you love me and you are only mine ...
And our love will go on 'til the end of time." Read more ...
Connie Francis is NOT in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. How ridiculous is that? Read more...
Signed to the new Gordy label in 1962, this group recorded Berry Gordy Jr.'s "Do You Love Me," resulting in the group's (and label's) first hit. Read the story here.
Many consider "In The Still of The Night" to be the anthem of Doo Wop oldies and it would be hard to argue that point giving the year the song was originally released, 1956. Read more.
This Darling Lorraine page returns to 1959 and the remarkable story about a determined song writer. Includes memorable video clip with original lead singer. Read more here.
