Cotton Eye Joe

Album: Sex & Violins (1994)
Charted: 1 25
Play Video
  • If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
    I'd been married long time ago
    Where did you come from, where did you go?
    Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?

    He came to town like a midwinter storm
    He rode through the fields, so handsome and strong
    His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
    But all he had come for was having some fun

    If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
    I'd been married long time ago
    Where did you come from, where did you go?
    Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?

    He brought disaster wherever he went
    The hearts of the girls was to Hell, broken, sent
    They all ran away so nobody would know
    And left only men 'cause of Cotton-Eye Joe

    If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe
    I'd been married long time ago
    Where did you come from, where did you go?
    Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe? Writer/s: Jan M. Eriksson, Orjan Kjell Anders Oberg, Ranis Patrick Edenberg
    Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 10

  • DavidSo in the video? The vocal is not Ken Tacky? ;(
  • Chet from ArkansasWell, doggies! Me and Billy Joe Mae Tompkins used to dance quite a rug to this here one! That was back in sumer of 72.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaWhen I used to square dance we would do this song sometimes, it was fun.
  • Elizabeth from Anytown, Ilacctually there all the same people... i looked up some pics of there group and the one woman jst changed her hair color thats all :D
  • Elizabeth from Anytown, Ilandy, same here...
  • Zhivko from Bourgas, Bulgaria@Andy, Songfacts is trying to be always updated on the video content. While manually this ain't possible for our huge stack of songs and the non-stop changes on the videos by YouTube, our player searches the most requested video under the topic and loads it. This works well 99% of the times, but as you can see sometimes the video found as the best match is cover of the original song having better standing in YouTube charts.
  • Andy from Glen Burnie, Mdhow many Rednex groups are there? this ain't the video *I* saw...
  • Krista from Carbondale, PaThis song is so ridiculous, but it's perfect for prom's! I learned the dance at my prom and it was fun!!
  • Eric from Bend, OrThe lyrics make me laugh (in a good way). I like this song's beat, too.
  • Josh from TorontoAwesome song :D
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Oliver Leiber

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Gary Brooker of Procol Harum

Gary Brooker of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer and pianist for Procol Harum, Gary talks about finding the musical ideas to match the words.

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Lip-Synch Rebels

Lip-Synch RebelsSong Writing

What happens when Kurt Cobain, Iron Maiden and Johnny Lydon are told to lip-synch? Some hilarious "performances."