“Barefoot” - lyrics and lead sheet

“Barefoot”

© 2002 Brian Hutzell

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

"Sunshine Song"

I’m barefoot so often, that people expect to see me unshod. If I am caught wearing shoes, I am liable to be asked what’s wrong. I never intended for bare feet to become part of my official costume, but I don’t mind. Since Chicago in the 1990s, I’ve been known more for my bare feet than probably anything else. So I managed to work that into this song, which is another example of lyrics written with the “cut-up” technique. Reading over some of these lyrics makes me a little wistful. So many songs that never got beyond the paper I wrote them on. All that music just dying to be heard. I wish I could set it free for all the world to hear.

Sunshine Song

© 2011 Brian Hutzell

Are you sure this is my room?

It's hard to get excited

About a guest I never invited

Do ya like my feet?

You know they smell real sweet

I think they look neat

Hope ya like my feet

Bless my sole!

Sunshine song

Sing along

I breathe unnoticed in obscure hiding places

My footprints vanish the moment my feet leave the ground

I float through the past

Til the present drags me into the future

From now on that's where I'll be found

And I miss my friends

From an earlier time

If you fix yourself a cake,

I'd prefer pie

I wouldn't worry about your honor with a face like that

In a world full of noise, how can I relax?

I see you yesterday

I see you tomorrow

I see you even when you're far far away

I see you all the time

But not today

“Yellow Islands”

Brian Hutzell

I do not hesitate to use bits and pieces of my earlier art in my later art. This one incorporates “Contrazz.”

"Barefeet and Bowties"

This is a song about individuality. About granting yourself permission to be eccentric without apology. (And when I write “yourself,” of course I mean “myself.”) There are basic rules and regulations we agree to in order for society to run smoothly, but within the allowable framework, there is considerable leeway.

I choose to be barefoot as often as possible because it feels good. Simple as that. There are books and websites devoted to the health benefits of walking and running barefoot, of “grounding,” and so on. That’s nice, but when I go barefoot I’m not thinking about anything other than the nice feeling of the ground beneath my feet.

The key line in this song is “I won’t apologize for being a good kid.” The media likes to portray the good kid as a geek, a loser, or a mama’s boy. In the Biblical parable of The Prodigal Son, the good kid gets the shaft while the wild child gets the goodies. Any good kid will tell you that in school, it’s the bad boys who get the chicks.

I was a good kid. I’m still a good kid. Maybe that’s not as interesting as the rebel with or without a cause, but it’s nothing to be ashamed of either. Besides, don’t the barefeet and bowties make me at least a little bit interesting?

Barefeet and Bowties

a musical statement of individuality

© 2011 Brian Hutzell

Barefeet and bowties

Living without compromise

And I won’t apologize for being a good kid

I won’t pretend I’m less; I’m not sorry for what I did

Now I’m too old to bloom

Too young to boom

I butter my feet and walk on toast

Isn’t that an unusual boast?

I don’t claim to be the same as most of the other folks

I don’t laugh at their jokes

I’d rather make up my own

Barefeet and bowties

Long hair and blue eyes

A hero in my fantasy, a creature of my fancy

The center of attention in my dreams

Special mention for those scenes

Feeling different, set apart

Jesus and Johnny Appleseed

The Artful Dodger, Boy of Destiny

In barefeet and bowties

Musicalize, evangelize, pilgrimize

I hear the music but refuse to march

I’ll leave my footprints in my own time

Barefeet and bowties

Living without compromise

Sunset to sunrise

And I won’t apologize

"Barefoot Girl"

Rock ‘n’ roll: I’m not very good at it. In fact, in reviewing a cassette demo of mine, the writer called me “The anti-rock ‘n’ roll.” It was NOT meant as a compliment, but I take it as one. Rock ‘n’ roll is old territory, and one with a very limited terrain. I get bored if I have to listen to very much of it, and I get equally bored if I have to play too much of it. I feel the same about blues, country, and a lot of what passes for jazz. In spite of that, I’ve played with rock ‘n’ roll bands, and had some fun experiences doing so. One of my music career highlights was playing keyboards on tour with Danny and the Juniors, of “At the Hop” fame. I wrote several songs on that road trip, but unfortunately, none of them were very good. “Barefoot Girl” has quality verses, but the chorus sucks.

Barefoot Girl

© 1998 Brian Hutzell

You don’t wear shoes when you go to school

You’re kinda dreamy, but you’re no fool

You’re not afraid to dance alone, and not about to change

You don’t mind when people call you strange, no

Your clothes are always out of style

The ads on TV just make you smile

You’re not the type to fall for hype; you’re not the kind to bend

You know you’ll be the winner in the end, oh

You’re my barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Sweetest in the whole damn world

Barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Let me love you like I know I can--you know I can

Oh barefoot girl, let me be your man

You stand apart from the crowd that’s cool

You try to follow the Golden Rule

And you wonder why so many crying, “Peace!” in the street

Are wearing army boots on their feet

You’re my barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Sweetest in the whole damn world

Barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Let me love you like I know I can--you know I can

Oh barefoot girl, let me be your man

Barefoot girl, I wanna be a part of your world

Barefoot girl, I’m in love with you, so please tell me what to do

You view the world from happy ground

And gladly share the life you’ve found

I only hope the world will open up to your embrace

And never take the smile from your face

You’re my barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Sweetest in the whole damn world

Barefoot girl, my barefoot girl

Let me love you like I know I can--you know I can

Oh barefoot girl, let me be your man

"Barefoot"

To date, I have only been paid for two short pieces of writing. That’s the extent of my success as an author. Both pieces were for an indie zine with a gay foot fetish theme. The same zine also paid me to run some pictures of my bare feet, so I can claim to be not only a professional author, but also a professional model, albeit with one with a very short resume in both careers.

Barefoot

© 2002 Brian Hutzell

No shoes!

How nice!

No socks!

Feels good!

The ground beneath my feet

The textures feel neat

The cold and the heat

Soft and hard

Smooth and rough

Waiting for my soles to get tough

My toes spread comfortably

And it turns me on

Now I’m showing off

Showing off my naked feet

See them tan and shining in the sun

Attracting looks

 - some envious

 - some curious

 - some nervous

Barefoot in the summer

Barefoot in the winter

Leaving footprints in the snow

Wondering,

What do people think when they see my barefoot prints in the snow?

Do they think I’m crazy?

At least they’re thinking about me!

Short pieces about my art: "Barefoot Boy"

"Barefoot Boy"
© 2002 Brian Hutzell
2 panels: 3-5/8 x 26 x 3/4 inches each
milk paint on wood

“Barefoot Boy” was named for Gene Janowski, now deceased. He was a former professional skater, but was well past his prime when I met him. Gene had alcohol problems, smoking, problems, weight problems, and was eccentric by nearly any measure. Still, he was a nice guy. I was sad but not surprised when I heard he’d passed away; he looked terrible the last time I saw him in Chicago, three years ago. It was through Gene that I met Ticklish, and through Ticklish that I met Scott, an S&M master. Gene also introduced me to Skeeter, another member of Chicago’s foot fetish community, and Milan, with whom I am still in touch. At least one other member of that circle has also recently died, Charlie. Time marches on.