Clifton Hicks - Cotton Eyed Joe

Banjo Heritage 👉 According to Dorothy Scarborough, author of the the book, On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs (1925), enslaved Americans were singing about “Cotton-Eyed Joe“ as early as the 1850s. However, the first printed version did not appear until 1882. I learned these words to “Cotton-Eyed Joe“ from Jerron Paxton. He sang it unaccompanied following the usual melody, so I composed this original banjo arrangement in ~ f♯DGAD. I want to go a’courting but I couldn’t 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 couldn’t 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