Clifton Hicks Cotton Eyed Joe

Banjo Heritage According to Dorothy Scarborough, author of the the book, On the Trail of Negro FolkSongs (1925), enslaved Americans were singing about CottonEyed Joe as early as the 1850s. However, the first printed version did not appear until 1882. I learned these words to CottonEyed Joe from Jerron Paxton. He sang it unaccompanied following the usual melody, so I composed this original banjo arrangement in fDGAD. I want to go a courting but I couldn t go Had to stay home with CottonEyed Joe, If it hadn t been for CottonEyed Joe I d a been married a long time ago Where did you come from where did you go Where did you come from CottonEyed Joe (x2) I want to go to town but I couldn t go Had to take care of CottonEyed Joe, If it hadn t been for CottonEyed Joe I d a been married a long time They whipped that man with a rope and