The "Cotten-eyed Joe" is so embedded in Texas culture that it is sung during the seventh inning stretch of a baseball game. When I first moved the Texas, it was the only song performed. Now both "Take me out the the Ballgame" and "Cotten-eyed Joe" are sung during the seventh inning stretch. So it is not a song confined to honky-tonks and country western venues and history.

In past posts others have described the dance and song in Texas. It is performed as a line dance with each person putting their arms around each others waist and going around the dance floor.   The caller says something like "what's that smell", the dancers kick forward and yell "bullshit". "Say it again" "Bullshit" and so on