"Cotton-Eyed Joe" Performance
Added 2020-08-22 19:07:10 +0000 UTCI learned Cotton-Eyed Joe from Jerron "Blindboy" Paxton of South-Central Los Angeles. He sang it a capella following the usual melody, so I composed this original banjo arrangement in f#DGAD. Be warned that although I've censored Paxton's lyrics, they are still quite disturbing:
I want to go a'courting but I could not go
Had to stay home with Cotton-Eyed Joe,
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd a'been married a long time ago
Where did you come from where did you go
Where did you come from Cotton-Eyed Joe? (x2)
I want to go to town but I could not go
Had to take care of Cotton-Eyed Joe,
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd a'been married a long time ago...
They whipped that man with a rope and a line
They whipped that man 'til he lost his mind,
They whipped that man to the longleaf pine
They whipped that man 'til he went stone blind...
They whipped that man with a line and a rope
They whipped that man 'til he Buzzard Loped
They whipped that man with a rope and a line
They whipped that man 'til he lost his mind...
According to the book, On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs (Scarborough, 1925), this song predates the American Civil War. Scarborough documented one informant from Louisiana who heard slaves perform it during their early childhood in the 1850s. The first printed version appeared in the early 1880s. My instrument is an 1890s S. S. Stewart "Thoroughbred" banjo.
Comments
Again thank you for the history on these songs and the performances. Quite emotional to read the lyrics and hear this version.
Jesse Francis
2020-09-02 04:51:17 +0000 UTCNice sounding banjo.
norman dion
2020-08-24 15:24:43 +0000 UTCYes, I'm sell in ng this one for a friend. It's a high-end banjo in very good condition, so is pretty expensive.
Clifton Hicks
2020-08-24 11:32:34 +0000 UTCLove that Stewart. And though I've heard the lyrics to this song many times before, you (as always) have a knack for making the narrative of the song stand out and come to life on the back of really meticulous rhythm on those alternating 4th and 1st/2nd picks. You tell a story with the best of them, my dude.
Garrett
2020-08-24 04:32:39 +0000 UTCWonderful, thank you! I enjoyed the history/backstory behind the song too!
DEBORAH K BOZEK
2020-08-23 23:11:56 +0000 UTCWow, Clifton, I’ve never heard this before. Phew, it’s not easy to listen to.
Cindy Barrett Gilchrist
2020-08-23 22:05:48 +0000 UTCAwesome rendition Clifton, thanks for sharing.
Kevin W Smith - KW4KWS
2020-08-23 12:27:43 +0000 UTCWhew. I have always loved this tune. Especially by Kathy Kallick; but was always disturbed by the not so subtle references. Your version really strips it bare. I’ll never be able to feel the same about it again.
hobart wright
2020-08-23 03:01:19 +0000 UTCWonderful playing, as per usual! Is this banjo for sale?
Ward Breeden
2020-08-23 01:30:29 +0000 UTCIt's racist origin and original words. Even in Clifton's cleaned up version it is obvious who the "man" was. I am puzzled why people who obsess on the past want to destroy it. How do we learn from it if we erase it like a bunch of Taliban destroying ancient Buddha images carved in the side of mountains of their kindred spirits that would like to destroy Stone Mountain. Clifton made a good song out of that.
Dave Murray
2020-08-23 01:10:00 +0000 UTCLove that sound, good job putting together the melody that fits the two finger style.
Dean Schober
2020-08-23 00:32:49 +0000 UTC
