Pick A Bale of Cotton

As long as people have picked cotton, they have sung to break the monotony and help them get through the day. This old folk song is thought to be as old as slavery or older. A bale of cotton is ~500 pounds, and I think it is highly unlikely that anyone could pick a bale in a day, but the song is catchy. Listen to the way Lonnie Donegan does it.

Chorus:

Oh, Lawdy, pick a bale a cotton
Oh, Lawdy, pick a bale a day

verses:

You got a jump down, turn around
Pick a bale a cotton
Got a jump down, turn around
Pick a bale a day

(chorus)

Me an' my partner can
Pick a bale a cotton
Me an' my partner can
Pick a bale a day

(chorus)

Had a little woman could
Pick a bale a cotton
Had a little woman could
Pick a bale a day

(chorus)

Went to Corsicana to
Pick a bale a cotton
Went to Corsicana to
Pick a bale a day

(chorus)

I b'lieve to my soul I can
Pick a bale a cotton
I b'lieve to my soul I can
Pick a bale a day

(chorus)

I don't know this farmer, but it looked like he was doing a fantastic job!

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