"Cotton-Eyed Joe" is a popular American folk song known at various times throughout the United States and Canada, although today it is most commonly associated with the American South. In the Roud index of folksongs it is number 942.
"Cotton Eye Joe" is also a popular spoke line dance that can be seen and danced at country western dance venues. The 1980 film Urban Cowboy sparked a renewed interest in the dance, and most recently a version of the song recorded by the Swedish band Rednex in 1994 as "Cotton Eye Joe" has become popular.
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History
The precise origins of this song are unclear, although it predates the American Civil War[1]. One version was recorded by folklorist Dorothy Scarborough and published in 1925.[2][3]
Don't you remember, don't you know,
Don't you remember Cotton-eyed Joe?
Cotton-eyed Joe, Cotton-eyed Joe,
What did make you treat me so?
I'd 'a' been married forty year ago
Ef it had n't a-been for Cotton-eyed Joe!
Cotton-eyed Joe, Cotton-eyed Joe,
He was de nig dat sarved me so, ?
Tuck my gal away fum me,
Carried her off to Tennessee.
I'd 'a' been married forty year ago
Ef it had n't a-been for Cotton-eyed Joe.
Hi's teeth was out an' his nose was flat,
His eyes was crossed, ? but she did n't mind dat.
Kase he was tall, and berry slim,
An' so my gal she follered him.
I'd 'a' been married forty year ago
Ef it had n't a-been for Cotton-eyed Joe.
She was de prettiest gal to be found
Anywhar in de country round;
Her lips was red an' her eyes was bright,
Her skin was black but her teeth was white.
I'd 'a' been married forty year ago
Ef it had n't a-been for Cotton-eyed Joe.
Dat gal, she sho' had all my love,
An swore fum ne she'd never move,
But Joe hoodooed her, don't you see,
An' she run off wid him to Tennessee,
I'd 'a' been married forty years ago,
Ef it hadn't a-been for Cotton-eyed Joe."
Scarborough noted that the song seemed to be well known in the South prior to the Civil War, and parts of it had been sent in by various persons.[4]
Over the years, many different versions of the song have been performed and/or recorded with many different versions of the lyrics (and many without lyrics). Cotton-eyed Joe, on occasion referred to as "the South Texas National Anthem", was played for minstrel-type jigs, and has long been popular as a square dance hoedown and a couple dance polka.[5]
During the first half of the twentieth century the song was a widely known folk song all over English-speaking North America.
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One Discography lists 134 recorded versions released since 1950.[1] In more recent decades, the song has waned in popularity in most regions except some parts of the American South where it is still a popular folk song.[6]
A list of the possible meanings of the term "cotton eyed" that have been proposed includes: to be drunk on moonshine, or to have been blinded by drinking wood alcohol, turning the eyes milky white; a black person with very light blue eyes; someone whose eyes were milky white from bacterial infections of Trachoma or syphilis, cataracts or glaucoma; and the contrast of dark skin tone around white eyeballs in black people. [7]
Bob Wills and Adolph Hofner and His San Antonians both recorded the song, and Hofner's version (Columbia 37658), issued in 1941,[2] apparently being the one that did the most to popularize the song.[8]
A 1967 instrumental version of the song (KIKR k202) by Al Dean, who recalled the song called "The Gingerbread Man" in South Texas, inspired a new round dance polka for couples. This dance was adapted into a simplified version as a nonpartner waist-hold, spoke line routine. Heel and toe polka steps were replaced with a cross-lift followed by a kick with two-steps. The lift and kick are sometimes accompanied by shouts of "whoops, whoops," or the barn yard term "bull shit", mimicking the act of kicking off barnyard muck.[9] The practice continues to this day. The "Kickin'" LP included "Cotton Eyed Joe" by Dean. (KIK-R: 10012)
One version of a dance called "Cotton Eyed Joe" can be found in the 1975 edition of "Encyclopedia of Social Dance". This version has the men on the inside of a cirlce facing out, and the women on the outside facing in. The dance consists of Eight Kick Steps, Side, Close Left Together, Right Together, and a series of struts.[10]
The spoke line version gained popularity not only in Texas, but across the nation and overseas in the 1980s.[11]
Ray Benson of the Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel talks about playing the Bob Wills version of "Cotton Eye Joe" in Texas in the 1970s, when the dance was very much alive. [3]
A Western "Craze" followed the 1980 release of Urban Cowboy. Dancers nationwide even dressed the part in cowboy boots, hats, and jeans. To accommodate the singles in attendance, creative Texans resurrected old nonpartner, spoke-line dances (such as "Cotton-eyed Joe") and invented new ones. They changed some of the formations from couple to spoke-lines and altered the steps to fit, so that lines made up of single dancers could link arms around each other's waists and prance or glide around the hall. [4]
The Bob Wills version of the song is still popular with dancers.
"Cotton Eye Joe", and its continued popularity in Texas, was referred to in the lyrics to Alabama's song "If You're Gonna Play in Texas." "I remember down in Houston we were puttin' on a show when a cowboy in the back stood up and yelled, "Cotton-Eyed Joe"!"
Contemporary Cotton Eye Joe
In April 2008 "Cotton-Eyed Joe" was used as the music for a Country Western group dance on the nationally broadcast show "Dancing with the Stars".
"Cotton-Eyed Joe" has been a standard during the seventh-inning stretch at Texas Rangers baseball games since the team moved to Texas in 1972. The Rednex version has been played at Yankee Stadium since the mid-90s during the seventh-inning stretch. Since late 2001, the song has been moved to the eighth inning to accommodate the playing and/or singing of God Bless America. During the song, a video on the Diamond Vision screen claiming to be "live from the control room" shows an individual identified as "Cotton Eye Joey" in a straw hat dancing along.
In Green Bay at Lambeau field, "Cotton-eye Joe" by the Rednex is often played during timeouts. The songs traditional dance can be seen throughout the stadium
In Florida at the Bank Atlantic Center 2008-2009 during The Florida Panthers (Ice Hockey) games while in between plays, they bring out a lone man dressed like a cowboy that dances to the song for the on-looking fans when they are winning or tied. Bank Atlantic Center also plays the song with a blow up "mad" cow, named Mad by a large number of fans when the Panthers are losing; they bring him out to get the fans going. When used they come out most of the time in the second period, but have been seen in the third. Neither are used every game.[citation needed]
"Cotton-Eyed Joe" was used for an act on America's Got Talent.
Rednex version
| "Cotton Eye Joe" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Rednex | |||||
| from the album Sex & Violins | |||||
| Released | 1994 | ||||
| Format | CD, 12" | ||||
| Recorded | 1994 | ||||
| Genre | Country music & Electronica | ||||
| Length | 3:20 | ||||
| Writer(s) | Janne Ericsson Örjan Öban Öberg Pat Reiniz |
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| Producer | Pat Reiniz | ||||
| Rednex singles chronology | |||||
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In 1994, Swedish eurodance band Rednex covered the song as "Cotton Eye Joe", combining their style with traditional American instruments, such as synthesized (or in some cases, sampled) banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas.
Music and lyrics
The version released by Rednex is often played in the US. Dancers will do the "spoke-line" dance Cotton Eye Joe around the outside of the dance floor. There may also be line dancers doing dances such as "Crazy Legs" in the center of the floor.
Chart performances
The Rednex version of the song, along with a dance mix version, was very successful in Europe, reaching number 1 in the United Kingdom in January 1995, and also in the United States (where it peaked at #25 in March 1995) and Australia (where it peaked at #8 in April 1995). The song was also remixed in 2002. Blender magazine also ranked the song at #38 on the list of the "50 Worst Songs Ever". [12]
Track listings
- CD
- "Cotton Eye Joe" (Original Single Version) — 3:20
- "Cotton Eye Joe" (Madcow Mix) — 4:46
- "Cotton Eye Joe" (Madcow Instrumental) — 4:46
- "Cotton Eye Joe" (Overworked Mix) — 6:20
- "Cotton Eye Joe" (Original Instrumental) — 3:08
Certifications
| Country | Certification | Date | Sales certified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria[13] | Platinum | December 12, 1994 | 30,000 |
| Germany[14] | 2 x Platinum | 1995 | 600,000 |
| Netherlands[15] | Gold | 1994 | 40,000 |
| Norway[16] | 2 x Platinum | 1995 | 80,000 |
| Sweden[17] | Platinum | October 10, 1994 | 20,000 |
| Switzerland[18] | Platinum | 1995 | 50,000 |
| UK[19] | Platinum | February 1995 | 600,000 |
| U.S.[20] | Gold | September 5, 1995 | 500,000 |
Charts
|
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| Preceded by "Love Is All Around" by Wet Wet Wet |
Swedish number-one single September 2, 1994 - October 21, 1994 (8 weeks) |
Succeeded by "This Is the Way" by E-Type |
| Dutch Top 40 number-one single September 17, 1994 (1 week) |
Succeeded by "Dromen zijn bedrog" by Marco Borsato |
|
| Norwegian VG-Lista number-one single 41/1994 - 2/1995 (15 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Old Pop in an Oak" by Rednex |
|
| Preceded by "Saturday Night" by Whigfield |
German number-one single November 4, 1994 - January 6, 1995 (10 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Tears Don't Lie" by Mark 'Oh |
| Preceded by "Hey Süßer" by Lucilectric |
Austrian number-one single November 6, 1994 - December 18, 1994 (7 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Hey Süßer" by Lucilectric |
| Preceded by "Secret" by Madonna |
Swiss number-one single November 27, 1994 - February 26, 1995 (13 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Conquest of Paradise" by Vangelis |
| Preceded by "Stay Another Day" by East 17 |
UK Singles Chart number-one single January 14, 1995 - January 28, 1995 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Think Twice" by Céline Dion |
| Preceded by "Tomorrow" by Silverchair |
New Zealand RIANZ number-one single March 5, 1995 - April 9, 1995 (6 weeks) |
Succeeded by "If You Love Me" by Brownstone |
"Cotton Eye Joe 2002"
| "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Rednex | |||||
| from the album The Best of the West | |||||
| Released | 2002 | ||||
| Format | CD, download | ||||
| Recorded | 2002 | ||||
| Genre | Country music & Electronica | ||||
| Length | 3:33 | ||||
| Label | Zomba Records | ||||
| Producer | Ranis | ||||
| Rednex singles chronology | |||||
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"Cotton Eye Joe 2002" is a country-dance song by the Swedish band Rednex, released from their greatest hits album, The Best of the West. The song is a remixed version of Rednex's hit debut single "Cotton-Eye Joe".
Track listing
- "Cotton Eye Joe 2002" - 3:33
- "Cotton Eye Joe 2002 (Dance Nation Remix)" - 7:32
- "Cotton Eye Joe 2002 (Aquagen Remix)" - 7:45
- "Ride the Hurricane's Eye (Winnetoons Version)" - 3:02
- "Cotton Eye Joe 2002 (Extended Version)" - 5:56
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Singles Chart | 32 |
Selective list of recorded versions
- Bob Wills
- Burl Ives, on the album The Wayfaring Stranger (1941, 1955)
- Al Dean & the All-Stars (1967)
- Karen Dalton, on the album Cotton Eyed Joe (recorded 1962, released 2007)
- The Chieftains, on the album Another Country (1992)
- Rednex, see below (1994)
- Violinist Vanessa-Mae, on the album The Ultimate Vanessa-Mae.
- Michelle Shocked used the song as a foundation for her own "Prodigal Daughter" adding her own lyrics.[31]
- Asleep at the Wheel
- Isaac Payton Sweat
- Red Clay Ramblers
- Carlton Moody and The Moody Brothers (1987)
External links
- Cotton-Eyed Joe in The Mudcat Cafe's Digital Tradition Folk Music Database
- Grateful Dead Family Discography of recordings of Cotton Eye Joe
- Samples from the Skillet Lickers and RedNex versions
References
- ^ Everett, Holly: The Many Lives of ‘Cotton Eyed Joe’, Canadian Society for Traditional Music Conference, 2002, Memorial University, St John’s, Newfoundland
- ^ "On The Trail Of Negro Folk-Songs-online book. A collection of negro folk songs with lyrics, sheet music & commentaries. By Dorothy Scarborough Assisted By Ola Lee Quiledge Copyright, 1925 By Harvard University Press". www.traditionalmusic.co.uk. http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/negro/folk-songs%20-%200169.htm.
- ^ On The Trail Of Negro Folk-Songs. by Dorthy Scarborough, assisted by Ola Lee Gulledge. Harvard University Press. 1925. pages 69, 70.
- ^ On The Trail Of Negro Folk-Songs. by Dorthy Scarborough, assisted by Ola Lee Gulledge. Harvard University Press. 1925. pages 69, 70.
- ^ Dance Across Texas Betty Casey. 1985. University of Texas Press. page 17. ISBN 0-292-71540-4
- ^ Everett, 2002
- ^ "Information at The Fiddler's Companion". www.ibiblio.org. http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/CORK_COT.htm.
- ^ Don't Get above Your Raisin' by Bill C. Malone. 2001. University of Illinois Press. page 313. ISBN 0-252-02678-0
- ^ Dance Across Texas Betty Casey. 1985. University of Texas Press. page 17. ISBN 0-292-71540-4
- ^ Encyclopedia of Social Dance. Albert and Josephine Bulter. 1975. Albert Bulter Ballroom Dance Service. New York, NY. no ISBN or other ID
- ^ Dance Across Texas Betty Casey. 1985. University of Texas Press. page 17. ISBN 0-292-71540-4
- ^ Run for Your Life! It's the 50 Worst Songs Ever! from Blender.com. (Retrieved on May 3, 2008.)
- ^ Austrian certifications ifpi.at (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ German certifications musikindustrie.de (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ Dutch certifications nvpi.nl (Retrieved December 9, 2008)
- ^ Norwegian certifications Ifpi.no (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ Swedish certifications Ifpi.se (Retrieved September 11, 2008)
- ^ Swiss certifications Swisscharts.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ UK certifications bpi.co.uk (Retrieved February 1, 2009
- ^ U.S. certifications riaa.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Cotton Eye Joe", in various singles charts Lescharts.com (Retrieved February 6, 2008)
- ^ a b c d Billboard Allmusic.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ German Singles Chart Charts-surfer.de (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ Irish Single Chart Irishcharts.ie (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ UK Singles Chart Chartstats.com (Retrieved April 10, 2008)
- ^ 1994 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ 1995 Australian Singles Chart aria.com (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ 1995 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ 1995 French Singles Chart Disqueenfrance.com (Retrieved January 30, 2009)
- ^ 1995 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch (Retrieved July 30, 2008)
- ^ "Page about Michelle Shocked's song Prodigal Daughter". www.michelleshocked.com. http://www.michelleshocked.com/chords_prodigal_daughter.htm.
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