“Barefoot In Baltimore”

“Barefoot In Baltimore” is the first song on side two of Strawberry Alarm Clock’s 1968 album The World In A Sea Shell. It was released as a single as well, with the b-side “An Angry Young Man”.

As one of the songs on the LP whose music (if not words) was actually written by the band, “Barefoot In Baltimore” is one of the better and more heartfelt performances on The World In A Sea Shell, while retaining the gentle and playful air of the album in general.

Describing a character named Barefoot and his friends, the song’s lyrics depict him walking around Baltimore and along the shores of Chesapeake Bay enjoying the street-party vibe of the area. The Clock trots out its trusty xylophone and turns the song into one that was chosen by someone to be a single. (It didn’t do particularly well.)

But “Barefoot In Baltimore”, underneath its lightweight veneer, does boast an interesting and unique structure. Short, merry verses give quick little descriptions of odd, unconnected scenes (Fun cooks a meal on the stove while Barefoot strolls around town giggling at the sidewalk). The chorus, repeated throughout, is slower, more dramatic, and very short, barely a chorus at all but a recurring centerpiece of the song:

“Barefoot in Baltimore
Heel and toe with yooooou”

Nice of the lyricist to incorporate the listener into the scene! The band has complained about the silliness of the lyrics, particularly that line, since the single’s release, but I like them. They have a nice sound at that point in the song, though they are truly ‘meaningless’.

“Barefoot In Baltimore” is very short, as are all the album’s songs.

“Barefoot In Baltimore” appears on…

Having been released, advisedly or not, as a single, “Barefoot In Baltimore” is commonly anthologized on Strawberry Alarm Clock compilations.

The World In A Sea Shell (1969)
“Barefoot In Baltimore” b/w “An Angry Young Man” (1969)
The Best Of Strawberry Alarm Clock (1970)
Incense & Peppermints (1990)
Strawberries Mean Love (1992)
The Strawberry Alarm Clock Anthology (1993)