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

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.