Bob Wills played this this version of Cotton Eyed Joe on the 1947 recording with his band, The Texas Playboys. Louis Tierney played harmony, which is not transcribed. See Howard Marshall’s essay on this tune, elsewhere in this issue.

This is related to the commercially successful Cotton Eyed Joe of the Urban Cowboy fad, but the latter is in the key of A and has two strains of four measures apiece. Here’s an example of what that tune spawned – the hit recording and line dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9VMZBgKO_s&feature=related

This transcription is taken from the 750 tune compendium, The Phillips Collection of Traditional American

Fiddle Tunes. – the editor

Printable Version

Cotton Eyed Joe