This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed 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-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed 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-Eyed Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married a long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed 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-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed 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-Eyed Joe
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married a long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eyed Joe?
Lyrics submitted by stargazer00
Cotton Eye Joe Lyrics as written by Orjan Kjell Anders Oberg Jan M. Eriksson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Cotton Eye Joe is an American folk tune dating back to the 19th century. The chorus in this song is all that's lifted from the traditional version, though. The Rednex added new lyrics to explain why Cotton Eye Joe prevented the singer from being married, as it was never explained in the original.
This song is viciously maligned by critics, but I love it. As someone who has a deep affection for old school American folk, I realize I'm not supposed to, but I don't care.
A site that talks a lot about the history of this song:
themediadesk.com/newfiles2/joe.htm
@bokononist interesting to read some of the history of the song. Seems to have it's origins from slaves on plantations.
how do u think its about heroine or alcohal?? im just wondering, maybe im not understanding the lyrics right. lol
but its an awesome song! lmao i love just dancing around my room to it. hahaha...when noones home of course
i don't think its bout drugs its just cotton eye Joe whos stealing all the mens women
Lol why cause they use a cotton filter to draw back through? Lol it's not about smackheads...heroin wasn't even invented when the original was made.<br /> <br /> It's about a black slave running off with his masters girlfriend...hence why the original was sung by both the black and white community...because it has the heart ache for the white guy and the happiness for the black guy... Look at the greatest songs ever they're always about heartache or happiness
ha such a cool song makes me line dance instantly no matter where i am. i think its about a tough guy who roles into town and steals everyones girls.
woah i never knew the words to this song what a man ho!
This song was on the VH1 countdown for worst ever songs, and rightfully so.
does it really matter if its heroine or alchol? its still the same point: Don't do drugs/alchol.
BTW. I personally think its alcohol, because men and women binge drink seperately, whereas they do drugs together.
WTF ARE YOU ON ABOUT ITS NOTHING TO DO WITH DRUGS
I love this song! I can't stop listening to it! And I take this song in literaly sense.
I love this song. Any current artist that does a cover of a very old song is awesome. I like the fact that they put the hillbilly folk song into current day music. I like the novelty of it.
This is a great party dance song. More popular in the south, they played this at my prom right after cha cha slide
Of course it's more popular in the south it's about a black slave running of with his slave master's wife... Fucken legendary song i swear
This is my new theme song.