Back when it first separated from the Army, the AF still wore Army Uniforms, with brown shoes... hence 'brown shoe' means 'in the early days', or just 'way back when'.
"Brown shoe" also meant
the boring Establishment
throughout the Sixties.
At least two cool songs
immortalized the brown shoe
vision of "culture":
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Beatles: Old Brown Shoe
I want a love that’s right but right is only half of what’s wrong.
I want a short haired girl who sometimes wears it twice as long.
Now I’m stepping out this old brown shoe, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now, I’m telling you.
You know you pick me up from where some try to drag me down
And when I see your smile replace every thoughtless frown.
Got me escaping from this zoo, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.
If I grow up I’ll be a singer wearing rings on every finger.
Not worrying what they or you say I’ll live and love and maybe someday
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.
I may appear to be imperfect, my love is something you can’t reject.
I’m changing faster than the weather if you and me should get together
Who knows, baby, you may comfort me.
That love of your, to miss that love is something I’d hate.
I’ll make an early start, I’m making sure that I’m not late.
For you sweet top lip I’m in the queue, baby, I’m in love with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.
I’m so glad you came here, it won’t be the same now when I’m with you.
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Zappa: Brown Shoes Don't Make It
Brown shoes don’t make it
Brown shoes don’t make it
Quit school, why fake it
Brown shoes don’t make it
Tv dinner by the pool
Watch your brother grow a beard
Got another year of school
You’re okay, he’s too weird
Be a plumber
He’s a bummer
He’s a bummer every summer
Be a loyal plastic robot
For a world that doesn’t care
That’s right
Smile at every ugly
Shine on your shoes and cut your hair
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Be a jerk - go to work
Do your job, and do it right
Life’s a ball
TV tonight
Do you love it
Do you hate it
There it is
The way you made it
A world of secret hungers
Perverting the men who make your laws
Every desire is hidden away
In a drawer in a desk by a naugahyde chair
On a rug where they walk and drool
Past the girls in the office
We see in the back
Of the city hall mind
The dream of a girl about thirteen
Off with her clothes and into a bed
Where she tickles his fancy
All night long
His wife’s attending an orchid show
She squealed for a week to get him to go
But back in the bed his teen-age queen
Is rocking and rolling and acting obscene
Baby baby...
Baby baby...
Gimme them cakes now, uh!
If I do, I’m gonna lose my...
And he loves it, he loves it
It curls up his toes
She wipes his fat neck
And it lights up his nose
But he cannot be fooled
Old city hall Fred
She’s nasty, she’s nasty
She digs it in bed
That’s right
Do it again, ha
And do it some more
Hey, that does it, by golly
And she’s nasty for sure
Nasty nasty nasty
Nasty nasty nasty
Only thirteen, and she knows how to nasty
She’s a dirty young mind, corrupted
Corroded
Well she’s thirteen today
And I hear she gets loaded
If she were my daughter, I’d...
What would you do, Frankie?
Well, if she were my daughter, I’d...
What would you do, Frankie?
If she were my daughter, I’d...
What would you do, Frankie?
Check this out
Smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again, oh baby
Smother that girl in chocolate syrup
And strap her on again
She’s my teen-age baby
She turns me on
I’d like to make her do a nasty
On the white house lawn
Smother my daughter in chocolate syrup
And boogie ’til the cows come home
Time to go home
Madge is on the phone
Gotta meet the Gurneys and a dozen grey attorneys
TV dinner by the pool
I’m so glad I finished school
Life is such a ball
I run the world from city hall