The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
(tony joe white)
Willie & laura mae jones
Were our neighbours a long time back
They lived right down the road from us
In a shack just like our shack
we worked in the fields together
And we learned to count on each other
When you live off the land
You dont have the time to think about another mans colour
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Sit out on the front porch
In the evening when the sun went down
Willie would play and the kids would sing
And everybody would mess around
Daddyd bring out his guitar
And play on through the night
Every now and then ol willie would grin and say
Hey, you play all right
Made me feel so good
i remember willie would hitch the mules up
when sandy rolled around
We all would stop by willies house and say
Do yall need anything from town?
Hed say no, but why dont yall stop on the way back home?
And Ill get laura mae, yeah, to cook up some corn bone
And you know thats good
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Oh, the years rolled past the land
And took back what theyd given
We all knew we had to move
If i was gonna make a living
So we all moved off
And went about our separate ways
It sure was hard to say goodbye
To willie and laura mae (jones y'all),
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
the years roll passed our door and we heard from them no more
til i saw willie down town the other day
i said y'all stop by tonight, we can sit down and eat a bite
we'd love to see your children and laura mae
he shook real stoic
and spoke with his eyes so kind
he said this was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Willie & laura mae jones
Were our neighbours a long time back
They lived right down the road from us
In a shack just like our shack
we worked in the fields together
And we learned to count on each other
When you live off the land
You dont have the time to think about another mans colour
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Sit out on the front porch
In the evening when the sun went down
Willie would play and the kids would sing
And everybody would mess around
Daddyd bring out his guitar
And play on through the night
Every now and then ol willie would grin and say
Hey, you play all right
Made me feel so good
i remember willie would hitch the mules up
when sandy rolled around
We all would stop by willies house and say
Do yall need anything from town?
Hed say no, but why dont yall stop on the way back home?
And Ill get laura mae, yeah, to cook up some corn bone
And you know thats good
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Oh, the years rolled past the land
And took back what theyd given
We all knew we had to move
If i was gonna make a living
So we all moved off
And went about our separate ways
It sure was hard to say goodbye
To willie and laura mae (jones y'all),
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
the years roll passed our door and we heard from them no more
til i saw willie down town the other day
i said y'all stop by tonight, we can sit down and eat a bite
we'd love to see your children and laura mae
he shook real stoic
and spoke with his eyes so kind
he said this was another place and another time
The cotton was high and the corn was growing fine, yes it was
But that was another place and another time
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Willie and Laura Mae Jones Lyrics as written by Tony Joe White
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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