The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #115182   Message #2463014
Posted By: Roberto
11-Oct-08 - 12:07 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Pick a Bale o' Cotton (Iron Head/Platt)
Subject: Lyr Add: PICK A BALE O' COTTON ("Iron Head" Baker"
Please, help me with the texts of two recordings of Pick a Bale o' Cotton, the first by James "Iron Head" Baker (on Document Records, Field Recordings volume 13), the second by Mose "Clear Rock" Platt, from John Lomax 1939 recordings (http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?lomaxbib:478:./temp/~ammem_5GqS::).
Here is what I can get:

Pick a Bale o' Cotton
James "Iron Head" Baker

Well, me and my partner
Pick a bale o' cotton
Well, me and my partner
Pick a bale a day

We ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale o' cotton
We ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale a day

Everybody want to see me
Pick a bale o' cotton
Everybody want to see me
Pick a bale a day

Well, I come from…
Pick a bale o' cotton
Well, I come from…
Pick a bale a day

Well, I … Texicana
Pick a bale o' cotton
Well, I … Texicana
Pick a bale a day

From Texicana, Corsicana
Pick a bale o' cotton
From Texicana, Corsicana
Pick a bale a day

I ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale o' cotton
I ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale a day

Oh, massa give me … hand
Pick a bale o' cotton
Oh, massa give me … hand
Pick a bale a day

I ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale o' cotton
I ain't (?) pick a bale, pick a bale
Pick a bale a day

Etc (repeats first stanzas)

Pick a Bale o' Cotton
Mose "Clear Rock" Platt

Pick a bale a day

Oh, will I
Pick a bale o' cotton?
Oh, shall I
Pick a bale a day?

(…)

Nigger from Shiloh
Pick a bale o' cotton
Nigger from Shiloh
Pick a bale a day

Me and my partner gon'
Pick a bale o' cotton
Me and my partner
Pick a bale a day

Oh, will I
Pick a bale o' cotton?
Oh, will I
Pick a bale a day?

Nigger from Shiloh
Pick a bale o' cotton
Nigger from Shiloh
Pick a bale a day

Jump down, run around
Pick a bale o' cotton
Jump down, run around
Pick a bale a day