Songbook/Cotton Fields

=Cotton Fields=

Huddie Ledbetter (better known by his pseudonym "Lead Belly") was born in 1888 and grew up in northwest Louisiana near the Arkansas border. As a teenager, he worked in the cotton fields like his parents and later his wife. In the song, he processes the first-hand experiences of a cotton picker.

The song is part of the standard repertoire of blues, country, folk, jazz and rock singers. The countless performers include Johnny Cash, Udo Jürgens, The Beach Boys, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Elton John, Harry Belafonte, Trini Lopez, Elvis Presley, Paul McCartney, and many more. Not to forget the numerous instrumentals.

Every artist has their own version of the song, but usually after two melodically similar verses there is a chorus and after that another verse (pattern A A B A), with each line followed by the chorus "In them old cotton fields back home". A verse can also be sung twice in a row. Otherwise they are repeated several times in a loose sequence. Each verse and each chorus can contain smaller or larger melodic variations. There are also many polyphonic arrangements.

The melody presented here is largely based on a pentatonic scale. In various interpretations, however, it can be expanded to include a few passing notes or blue notes. It is advisable to listen to different versions of the song and create your own version from the wealth of possibilities.


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Cotton Fields
When I was a little pretty baby My mama would rock me in the cradle In them old cotton fields back home
 * 1

But when I became a little older My daddy would take me on his shoulder In a-them old cotton fields back home
 * 2


 * Chorus
 * Oh, when them cotton bolls get rotten
 * You can't pick very much cotton
 * In them old cotton fields back home

I was home in Arkansas, people ask me what you come here for, In them old cotton fields back home
 * 4

It was down in Louisiana Just about a mile from Texar-kana In them old cotton fields back home You may think it is very funny But we didn't make much money In them old cotton fields back home
 * 5
 * 6

It may sound a little funny, but you didn't make very much money, In them old cotton fields back home
 * 5