Week 487: “Cotton Eyed Joe” by Terry Callier

When “Cotton Eye Joe” was released in 1994 by Rednex, a Swedish techno-country crossover act that somehow managed to make both techno and country even worse than they already were, I figured they had written it.

The lyrics were vapid and nonsensical, as if they had been written by, well, a techno band with a moderate command of English. The track was tailor-made for middle-school dances and depressing wedding receptions. It was catchy, campy, and relentlessly irritating.

What I didn’t know at the time was that “Cotton Eyed Joe” is a traditional folk song dating back to (at least) the American Civil War. It was sung by slaves on Southern plantations for decades before it was ever formally released.

Knowing this makes my dislike for the Rednex version even stronger, which I didn’t think was possible. However, my lack of knowledge of the song’s roots meant that hearing Terry Callier’s 1968 recording for the first time was a revelation. Like tasting a good wine for the first time if the only drink you’ve ever had is Mountain Dew.

Callier’s version is everything the Rednex’ song isn’t, almost like a photographic negative. Quiet where the other is loud. Slow where the other is fast. Understated where the other is obscene.

I guess what I’m trying to say is: here’s a bottle of wine. You’ll never have to drink Mountain Dew again.

What makes this a beautiful song:

1. The guitar, so quiet in the background, trots along with a lilt that makes me think of a tired horse.

2. Callier’s voice is a bit enigmatic; sometimes it sounds like a contented whisper, sometimes like a forceful plea, sometimes like he’s on the verge of tears.

3. The lyric, “If it hadn’t been for cotton-eyed Joe, I’d’ve been married a long time ago.” In the Rednex version, it was the opening line, and a signal for everyone to rush the dancefloor to enjoy three minutes of pretending to enjoy fiddle music. In Callier’s version, it’s the last line. His delivery, and the song’s slow burn, infuses that lyric with such pain and regret and heartbreak that I get chills every time.

Recommended listening activity:

Driving way below the speed limit.

Buy it here.

This song was recommended by a reader. Thanks, Courtney!