<P> What did make you sarve me so, Fur ter take my gal erway fum me, An' cyar her plum ter Tennessee? Ef it hadn't ben fur Cotton - eyed Joe, I'd er been married long ergo . "His eyes wuz crossed, an' his nose wuz flat, An' his teef wuz out, but wat uv dat? Fur he wuz tall, an' he wuz slim, An' so my gal she follered him . Ef it hadn't ben fur Cotton - eyed Joe, I'd er been married long ergo . "No gal so hansum could be foun', Not in all dis country roun', Wid her kinky head, an' her eyes so bright, Wid her lips so red an' her teef so white . Ef it hadn't ben fur Cotton - eyed Joe, I'd been married long ergo . "An' I loved dat gal wid all my heart, An' she swo' fum me she'd never part; But den wid Joe she runned away, An' lef' me hyear fur ter weep all day . O Cotton - eyed Joe, O Cotton - eyed Joe, What did make you sarve me so? O Joe, ef it hadn't er ben fur you, I'd er married dat gal fur true ." </P> <P> By 1884, the same year Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published, the fiddle - based song was referred to as "an old, familiar air ." In 1925, another version was recorded by folklorist Dorothy Scarborough and published . </P> <P> Don't you remember, don't you know, </P> <P> Don't you remember Cotton - eyed Joe? Cotton - eyed Joe, Cotton - eyed Joe, What did make you treat me so? I'd' a' been married forty year ago Ef it hadn't a-been for Cotton - eyed Joe! Cotton - eyed Joe, Cotton - eyed Joe, He was de nig dat sarved me so,--Tuck my gal away fum me, Carried her off to Tennessee . I'd' a' been married forty year ago If it hadn't a-been for Cotton - eyed Joe . Hi's teeth was out an' his nose was flat, His eyes was crossed,--but she didn't mind dat . Kase he was tall, and berry slim, An' so my gal she follered him . I'd' a' been married forty year ago Ef it hadn't a-been for Cotton - eyed Joe . She was de prettiest gal to be found Anywhar in de country round; Her lips was red an' her eyes was bright, Her skin was black but her teeth was white . I'd' a' been married forty year ago Ef it hadn't a-been for Cotton - eyed Joe . Dat gal, she sho' had all my love, An swore fum ne she'd never move, But Joe hoodooed her, don't you see, An' she run off wid him to Tennessee, I'd' a' been married forty years ago, Ef it hadn't a-been for Cotton - eyed Joe ." </P>

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