Cotton Eye Joe – English Lyrics

• By: Gummibär
• Album: La La Love to Dance

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language can be a joyful experience, and Gummibär's “Cotton Eye Joe” is a perfect example of how music can make it fun. The repetitive and simple lyrics of the chorus are easy to pick up, helping you to practice pronunciation and rhythm in English. This song is special because it takes a well-known folk tune and transforms it into a vibrant, animated dance party, making it an engaging and memorable way to learn.

[English]

Where'd it not been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

He came to town like a midwest storm

He rode through the fields so handsome and strong

His eyes were his tools and his smile was his gun

But all he had come for was havin' some fun

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

He brought disaster wherever he went

The hearts of the girls were to hell broken sent

They all ran away so nobody would know

And left only men 'cause of Cotton Eye Joe

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for Cotton Eye Joe

I'd been married long time ago

Where did you come from, where did you go?

Where did you come from, Cotton Eye Joe?

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cotton /ˈkɒtən/ A2	noun - a soft white fibrous plant material used in textiles
storm /stɔːrm/ A2	noun - a violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and rain
midwest /ˈmɪdˌwɛst/ B2	noun - the north‑central region of the United States
fields /fiːldz/ A2	noun - open land used for agriculture or sports
handsome /ˈhæn(d)səm/ B1	adjective - good-looking, especially in a masculine way
strong /strɒŋ/ A2	adjective - having great physical power or ability
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the organs of sight
tools /tuːlz/ A2	noun - devices or implements used to carry out a task
smile /smaɪl/ A1	noun - a facial expression in which the mouth turns up at the corners, showing pleasure or amusement verb - to form such an expression on the face
gun /ɡʌn/ A2	noun - a weapon consisting of a metal tube that fires projectiles
fun /fʌn/ A1	noun - enjoyable activity or amusement
disaster /dɪˈzæstər/ B2	noun - a sudden event causing great damage or loss
hearts /hɑːrts/ A2	noun - the muscular organ that pumps blood; also the centre of emotion
girls /ɡɜːrlz/ A1	noun - female children or young women
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer whole
married /ˈmærid/ B1	verb - to join together in marriage adjective - having a spouse; in a marriage
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to be aware of through observation, inquiry, or information