Misc Traditional – Cotton-Eyed Joe (Guitar)

Capo 4 Video Lesson
Key
-
Versions (2)

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Chords

(Cotton Eyed Joe -- Traditional, Circa 1861 or before) (This song is public domain, so feel free to use it wherever) [Verse 1]
G                  C         G
Way back yonder a  long time ago

G                          D            G
Daddy worked a man called  Cotton-Eyed  Joe

G                    C         G
Blew into town on a  travelin' show

G                       D            G
Nobody danced like the  Cotton-Eyed  Joe
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
[Verse 2]
G                      C         G
He came to town like a midwinter storm

G                              D            G
He rode through the fields, so handsome and strong

G                              C             G
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun

G                           D           G
But all he had come for was having some fun
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
[Verse 3]
G                     C             G
Mama's at the window, Mama's at the door

G                             D           G
She can't see nothin' but the Cotton-Eyed Joe

G                      C          G
Daddy held the fiddle, I held the bow

G                           D           G
An' we beat the crud out of Cotton-Eyed Joe
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
[Verse 4]
G                        C              G
Made himself a a fiddle, made himself a bow

G                         D           G
Made a little tune called Cotton-Eyed Joe

G                      C           G
Hadn't oughta been for Cotton-Eyed Joe

G                    D         G
I'd a-been married a long time ago
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
[Verse 5]
G                                C             G
Whenever there's a dance all the women want to go

G                                   D           G
And they all want to dance with the Cotton-Eyed Joe

G                     C        G
Daddy won't say but I think he knows

G                    D           G
Whatever happened to Cotton-Eyed Joe
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
[Verse 6]
G                       C       G
He brought disaster wherever he went

G                              C             G
The hearts of the girls was to Hell, broken, sent

G                    C            G
They all ran away so nobody would know

G                           C          G
And left only men 'cause of Cotton-Eye Joe
[Chorus]
G                     C          G
If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eye Joe

G                  D         G
I'd been married a long time ago

G                        C             G
Where did you come from, where did you go?

G                        D          G
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
(Thanks to Shane Richards)