Edward Piercy

Them Old Cotton Fields Back Home

Thursday, 8. October 2009, 16:38:57

"Let's put them kids to work!"

My mom was singing the song "Them Old Cotton Fields
Back Home" this morning to our dog Sasha.

Which seems very weird. My mom was raised in
the Midwest, not the South. And to the best of my
knowledge she has never worked in the cotton fields.
And of course there was the fact that she was singing
the song to a dog.

In any case the cotton fields mentioned in the song
seem to be in Louisiana:

"It was down in Lou'siana,
Just about a mile from Texarkana,
In them old, cotton fields back home."

I had to look up Texarkana. It's in Texas.

And of course we have to throw Arkansas into the mix:

"I was home in Arkansas,
People ask me what you come here for,
In them old, cotton fields back home."

But my favorite line has to be this one:

"It may sound a little funny,
But you didn't make very much money,
In them old, cotton fields back home."

You mean you can't make very much
money picking cotton?

Gee, go figure.

Sasha's 1st AnniversaryLaptop of the Gladiators

Comments

PainterWoman # 8. October 2009, 16:42

I used to sing that song when I was a kid but had forgotten it. I have sung "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess (I think), to my dogs.

edwardpiercy # 8. October 2009, 16:47

Hmm. Well maybe this singing old ballads to your dog thing isn't so unusual after all.

gdare # 8. October 2009, 17:06

I used to sang songs to our cats. Loud, with gesticulation. Scared poor animals to death sometimes

edwardpiercy # 8. October 2009, 17:11

Maybe a little less arm waving and boot stomping next time?

PainterWoman # 8. October 2009, 17:21

I always know when I'm too loud because CJ goes behind a chair. Camie couldn't care less.

gdare # 8. October 2009, 17:30

Exactly

L2D2 # 8. October 2009, 18:45

Edward, just to be pedantic---Texarkana is half in Texas, half in Arkansas; hence the name. Guess that line about "just about a mile from Louisiana is facetious---but there is a place there where the three states border on each other and Okla. as well.

Stardancer # 8. October 2009, 18:52

I have never sung to a dog or cat in my life. I did, however, tuck my poodle into bed when I was a little girl. And I can remember singing while riding our horse.

I got spurs that jingle jangle jingle as I go ridin' merrily along. And they say, "Oh, ain't you glad you're single?" And that song ain't so very far from wrong."

Have a great day, Edward.

Kisses to Sasha.

edwardpiercy # 8. October 2009, 18:59

@ Linda

You mean the song left Oklahoma out? Gee, that's too bad.

Thanks for the info.

@ Star

A very wise man/woman wrote that song.

There's a town here in WA called Spangle. When I hear somebody mention it on the news or whatever I always think of that song.

You have a great day too Star

I'm sure I will as I am going to have a few bloody marys this afternoon.

ricewood # 8. October 2009, 19:59

Another career option closing on me. I have thought of picking cotton - but I do need money. Well, isn't that just life?

edwardpiercy # 8. October 2009, 20:06

Allan from what I've heard you don't even get a real lunch break picking cotton -- you have to run away for an hour and then get a whipping when you get back.

ellinidata # 9. October 2009, 00:02

I sing "Hava Nagila" and I am not Jewish ! sometimes a song can be in my brain for days!

what did Sasha do?

*hugs to Mrs Piercy! *

edwardpiercy # 9. October 2009, 01:15

Sasha just turned her head a little to the side. Wondered what was going on I guess.

ellinidata # 9. October 2009, 02:18

Originally posted by edwardpiercy:

Wondered what was going on I guess.

hahaha I guess she knew "this is something totally new! "

I am so glad Eddie that you mom is at home and in a good spirits to even sing! it is only two days after the hospital and God be her protector , she makes us all smile

L2D2 # 9. October 2009, 06:05

Let me tell you I have both picked cotton and pulled bolls, and can explain how that is done if anyone wants details. Did it every fall when I lived in Commerce, Tx, along with my mom and dad, sister and brother. Have even chopped cotton (hoed weeds from the rows). We DID get lunch break on Saturdays.

Now there is no hand-harvested cotton in the U.S. that I know of. All done by machine. Pity. No, it didn't pay that well. Do you have any idea how long it takes to pick 250 pounds of cotton?

ricewood # 9. October 2009, 07:08

I for one don't know how long it takes to pick any amount of cotton. But when I was young, I earned money by cleaning fields of turnips when they were just about over the surface.

"Two away, one to stay. Two away, one to stay" - and that took an incredible amount of time giving an aching back in return.

edwardpiercy # 9. October 2009, 10:37

I just delivered newspapers on my bicycle.

ricewood # 9. October 2009, 10:50

I thought they were supposed to end up in mailboxes or on porches?

ellinidata # 9. October 2009, 12:10

I love walking in a cotton field.
I have a property by a cotton field area and when I visit Greece I make sure visiting ,
and having that special moment walking through the cotton field next to it ..
My parents did work their way to High School and College by working in the fields but I never had the experience.
Just looking at it makes me smile.
I love my cotton clothes

and I am thankful to people that go the extra mile to give the "feeling of my life" as the commercial says

by: Alix Beaujour

L2D2 # 10. October 2009, 01:23

Yes, that cotton is a very familiar sight. I always enjoyed it for the first hour. After that, working in the field was agony because I almost always got a migraine headache, and I was in elementary and then middle school when we did this.

ellinidata # 10. October 2009, 02:05

Originally posted by L2D2:

I almost always got a migraine headache, and I was in elementary and then middle school when we did this.

not an easy time for a young child, but those days every helping hand was a must...

L2D2 # 10. October 2009, 02:19

My dad was a Baptist preacher and in the 50s, preachers didn't get astronomical salaries like they do in the larger churches now. We did this to help buy our school clothes each year. I wasn't much of a much. I did make enough one year to buy my school shoes which were, of course, penney loafers, suede.

PainterWoman # 25. October 2009, 02:29

Ed, are you done resting in them cotton fields?

I miss you.

Stardancer # 25. October 2009, 03:57

Me, too.

ellinidata # 25. October 2009, 04:18

put on your cotton briefs and come out to show them off Eddie!

gdare # 25. October 2009, 08:18

We will wait for your return

edwardpiercy # 26. October 2009, 02:47

Thanks. Miss you all too and hope to be back soon.

gdare # 26. October 2009, 05:52