Cotton Eye Joe
Hit Crew Lyrics
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I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from?
Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?
If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
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?
The song Cotton Eye Joe by Hit Crew is a classic folk tune about a mysterious man named Cotton Eye Joe who swept in and seemingly disrupted the lives of those around him. The repetitive lyrics "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?" suggest that the nameless protagonist may have been left at the altar by his or her intended spouse because of the enigmatic Joe.
The lyrics go on to describe Joe's arrival in town "like a midwinter storm" and the havoc he wrought on the town's women, who all "ran away so nobody would know / and left only men 'cause of cotton-eye Joe." Joe is depicted as a charming and handsome man with a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face, but ultimately, he seems to bring nothing but trouble wherever he goes.
The song's origins are unclear, with multiple versions and variations of it existing throughout history. It's been covered by countless artists and appeared in several films, TV shows, and commercials. Despite its murky origins, the catchy melody and repetitive lyrics have made it a staple of pop culture for decades.
Line by Line Meaning
If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
If it wasn't for Cotton Eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
I would have gotten married a long time ago
Where did you come from?
Where did you come from?
Where did you go?
Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?
Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He came into town like a winter storm
He rode through the fields so
He rode through the fields
Handsome and strong
He was handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
His eyes were his tools and his smile was his charm
But all he had come for was having some fun
But he only came for fun
He brought disaster wherever he went
He caused chaos wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to hell broken sent
He broke the hearts of the girls
They all ran away so nobody would know
They all ran away so no one would know
And left only men 'cause of cotton-eye Joe
And he left only men because of Cotton Eye Joe
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave
Written by: JAN M. ERIKSSON, ORJAN KJELL ANDERS OBERG, PATRICK EDENBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind