About the song
## **Cotton Fields Medley – The Highwaymen**
**A Timeless Tribute to Rural America**
The Highwaymen, a supergroup of country music legends, delivered a timeless masterpiece with their “Cotton Fields Medley.” This iconic collection of songs, performed in 1985, paints a vivid picture of rural America, capturing its beauty, hardships, and enduring spirit.
The medley opens with the classic “Cotton Fields,” a traditional spiritual that has been sung for generations. The song’s simple, yet powerful melody evokes images of vast fields of cotton, where countless workers labored under the harsh sun. The lyrics, filled with longing and hope, express the desire for freedom and a better life.
As the medley progresses, the Highwaymen seamlessly transition into “On Top of Old Smokey,” a traditional folk song that celebrates the Appalachian Mountains. This song’s lively and upbeat tempo provides a welcome contrast to the more somber “Cotton Fields.” The lyrics paint a picturesque scene of life in the mountains, highlighting the region’s rugged beauty and the resilience of its people.
The medley concludes with “Oh, Susannah,” another well-known folk song. This cheerful tune tells the story of a young man’s journey to the American West in search of gold. The song’s optimistic tone reflects the spirit of adventure and the belief in a brighter future that characterized the American frontier.
The Highwaymen’s “Cotton Fields Medley” is a testament to the enduring power of traditional music. By combining elements of spirituals, folk songs, and country music, the group creates a rich and evocative tapestry that captures the essence of rural America. The medley’s timeless appeal lies in its ability to connect with listeners on a deep emotional level, reminding us of our shared history and the enduring spirit of the human heart.
Video
Lyrics
— Michael —
[Chorus]
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)[Verse 1]
Sister, help to trim the sail (Hallelujah)
Sister, help to trim the sail (Hallelujah)[Chorus]
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)[Verse 2]
River Jordan is chilly and cold (Hallelujah)
Chills the body but not the soul (Hallelujah)(If you know the song, c’mon help us sing it)
[Chorus]
(Michael, row the boat ashore, Sing it out, c’mon, hallelujah)
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)[Verse 3]
River is deep, the river is wide (Hallelujah)
Milk and honey on the other side (Hallelujah)
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[Chorus]
(Michael, row the boat ashore, sing it now, hallelujah)
(Michael, row the boat ashore, hallelujah)— Cotton Fields —
[Verse]
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama would rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama would rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home[Chorus]
Oh, when them cotton bolls get rotten
You can’t pick very much cotton
In them old cotton fields back home
It was down in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home[Verse]
When I was a wittle bitty baby
My mama would rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
When I was a little bitty baby
My mama would rock me in the cradle
In them old cotton fields back home
[Chorus]
Oh, when them cotton bolls get rotten
You can’t pick very much cotton
In them old cotton fields back home
It was down in Louisiana
Just about a mile from Texarkana
In them old cotton fields back home[Outro]
In them old, old, old cotton fields back home
In them old, old, old cotton fields back home