Cotton-Eyed Joe

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"Cotton-Eyed Joe" is a popular American folk song known at various times throughout the United States and Canada although today it is most commonly associated with the American South. "Cotton Eye Joe" is also a popular "spoke-line" dance [1] that can be seen and danced at country western dance venues. The 1980 film Urban Cowboy sparked a renewed interest in the dance, and most recently a version of the song recorded by the band Rednex in 1994 as "Cotton Eye Joe" has become popular.

Contents 1 History 2 Rednex 3 Media 4 In popular culture 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

The precise origins of this song are unclear although it predates the American Civil War^[1]. Over the years, many different versions of the song have been recorded with many different versions of the lyrics (and many without lyrics). During the first half of the twentieth century the song was a widely known folk song all over English-speaking North America. In more recent decades, the song has waned in popularity in most regions except some parts of the American South where it is still a popular folk song.

Ray Bensen of the Western Swing band Asleep at the Wheel talks about playing the Bob Wills version of "Cotton Eye Joe" in Texas in the 1970s, when the dance was very much alive. [2]

A Western "Craze" followed the 1980 release of Urban Cowboy Dancers nationwide even dressed the part in cowboy boots, hats, and jeans. To accommodate the singles in attendance, creative Texans resurrected old nonpartner, spoke-line dances (Cotton-eyed Joe) and invented new ones. They changed some of the formations from couple to spoke-lines and altered the steps to fit, so that lines made up of happy single dancers could link arms around each other's waists and prance or glide happily around the hall. [3]

The Bob Wills version of the song is still popular with dancers. [4]

"Cotton Eye Joe", and its continued popularity in Texas, was referred to in the lyrics to Alabama's song "If You're Gonna Play in Texas." "I remember down in Houston we were puttin' on a show When a cowboy in the back stood up and yelled, "Cotton-Eyed Joe"!" [5]

[edit] Rednex

In 1994, Swedish eurodance band Rednex covered the song as "Cotton Eye Joe", combining their style with traditional American instruments, such as banjos, fiddles, and harmonicas. The version released by Rednex a often played in the US. Dancers will do the "spoke-line" dance "Cotton Eye Joe" [6] around the outside of the dance floor. There may also be line dancers doing dances such as "Crazy Legs" in the center of the floor.

This version of the song was very successful in Europe, reaching number 1 in the United Kingdom in January 1995, and also in the United States and Australia (where it peaked at #8 in April 1995). The song was also remixed in 2002. It has become a "standard" for wedding "DJs" all over the world, among songs such as the "Macarena", "The Electric Slide", and "YMCA." This version of the song is popular at sporting events, especially in Europe and is frequently played during the seventh inning stretch at Baltimore Orioles games in Camden Yards.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Media

[edit] In popular culture

• Nina Simone recorded a version of Cotton-Eyed Joe.
• Sung with lyrics in the 1984 movie Places In the Heart.
• In 1992 Michelle Shocked released a song called "Prodigal Daughter (Cotton Eyed Joe)" on the Album "Arkansas Traveler".
• A rendition of this song was included in one of the albums from Crazy Frog

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Cotton-Eyed Joe in The Mudcat Cafe's Digital Tradition Folk Music Database
  
• sample of Rednex version

Preceded by "Stay Another Day" by East 17

UK Singles Chart Number 1 single January 8, 1995 for 3 weeks

Succeeded by "Think Twice" by Céline Dion