<P> Over the years, many different versions of the song have been performed and / or recorded with many different versions of the lyrics (and many without lyrics). "Cotton - Eyed Joe", on occasion referred to as "The South Texas National Anthem", was played for minstrel - type jigs, and it has long been popular as a square dance hoedown and a couple dance polka . </P> <P> A resident of Central Texas who learned the dance in Williamson County in the early 1880s described it as nothing but a heel and toe "poker" with fringes added . These fringes added to the heel and toe polka were clog steps which required skill and extraversion on the part of the dancer . </P> <P> During the first half of the twentieth century the song was a widely known folk song all over English - speaking North America . </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> Cotton - Eyed Joe A 1939 recording of the folk song </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Problems playing this file? See media help . </Td> </Tr> </Table>

Where did you come from where did you go cotton-eyed joe