Cotton-Eyed Joe

Cotton-Eyed Joe is one of America’s most recognizable traditional songs, originating from enslaved African Americans on Southern plantations in the pre-Civil War era. Collector Thomas Talley documented a story about a pre-Civil War fiddler named Cotton-Eyed Joe who played a fiddle made from his dead son’s coffin. “Cotton eyed” has various interpretations, from cataracts to wood alcohol effects to the contrast of dark skin around white eyes. It was a heel-and-toe dance in Texas during the 1880s and became a fiddler favorite across the South and West. It was widely known across North America by the early 20th century. Early recordings include the Carter Brothers and Skillet Lickers in the 1920s. Music historian Charles Wolfe called it “a Texas dance-hall anthem,” reflecting how it became strongly identified with Texas musical culture during the Western swing era of the 1930s-40s. The Swedish band Rednex’s 1994 dance version brought massive popular recognition worldwide, sparking discussions about cultural appropriation.