Lyrics Jeannie C. Riley

Jeannie C. Riley

Cotton Patch

I was raised in the middle of the cotton belt babe but I ain't gonna stay

I'll lose my shape fast draggin' cotton sacks and eatin' butter beans ever day

Yeah I'm a sweet young thing I just turned eighteen and I'm unhookin' the latch

Cause I've got too much class for this cotton patch

I've been readin' magazines on a once-a-week trip to town on Saturday

And I've seen all pretty clothes and had some rich men and I know that's for me

Papa's been tryin' to pair me up with Willie Bond whose daddy owns the cotton gin

Ha I done checked Willie out two years ago and Willie knows I'm too much for him

It's Monday mornin' four o'clock got my sack packed

And I'm out here where the freeway runs

Here comes a truck I'm in luck he's goin' straight through on a Dallas run

Yeah I am headin' for big D and I know that's place for me to really make a catch

Well finally I'm a gettin' my class out of this cotton patch

I arrived in style aboard that big semi and I felt mighty high

Waltzin' into the best department store for employment to suit my style

And I was doin' pretty good till some wisecracker came on the scene

He called me a ripe tomato but he said I sure look green

I tried ever door to ever store in town but my luck had run down

It seemed nobody round Dallas could recognize the class I'd brought to town

And after all day of looking would you believe the only job I could land

Was in a dog food factory stickin' labels on dog food cans

Dear mama how are you pop and kids hope you're doin' OK

Me I never did find a better job and all the rich men got away

Mama I've been thinkin' pretty soon you know I'll be nineteen

And I sure learned a lot about class fast mama know what I mean

Mama if you'd ask papa if he'd spare a few dollars

I'd catch the next greyhound comin' home

And I tell you if Willie Bond ain't committed yet I'd be willin' to give it a try

After all it's been two years...just tell papa...money...