Boots on the Floor

Hard week out
Whole room in
Heel, toe, turn
Boots on the floor
Count it, June

Friday at the Legion hall
Rain tapped time against the wall
June came straight from second shift
Name badge on, no time to switch
Borrowed boots from sister May
Said, I'll watch—I worked all day
I took her hand and counted four
By count eight, she owned the floor

No fancy steps, no keeping score
Leave the hard week at the door
When I count one, two, three, four
Bring those boots onto the floor

Boots on the floor—step left, step right
Step right
Two hands high, clap twice tonight
Clap, clap
Heel, toe, turn—meet me back on four
Back on four
Everybody, boots on the floor
Boots on the floor

Boots, boots, boots on the floor
Boots on the floor
Hard week out; whole room in
Count it again

Next Friday June was there by nine
Red boots tapping double-time
Saw old Mister Lee alone
Knee brace showing, coat still on
She said, You don't need to know
Took his hands and counted slow
By count eight, his shoulders dropped
By the chorus, he yelled, Don't stop!

No fancy steps, no keeping score
Leave the hard week at the door
When I count one, two, three, four
Bring those boots onto the floor

Boots on the floor—step left, step right
Step right
Two hands high, clap twice tonight
Clap, clap
Heel, toe, turn—meet me back on four
Back on four
Everybody, boots on the floor
Boots on the floor

Mama taught this count to me
When I was seventeen
First Friday after Daddy died
I wouldn't dance at all
She took my hands and counted four
Let grief lean against the wall
You and I still have this hall
I hear her every time I call

Heel, toe, turn
Heel, toe, turn
Step left
Step right
Hands up
Clap twice
Turn one time
Meet me back on four
Back on four

Boots on the floor—step left, step right
Step right
Two hands high, clap twice tonight
Clap, clap
Heel, toe, turn—meet me back on four
Back on four
June counts four—boots on the floor
Boots on the floor
Boots, boots, boots on the floor
Hard week out; whole room in

Hard week out
Whole room in
Heel, toe, turn it again
Rain at the old Legion door
June counts four—boots on the floor
Boots on the floor