Cotton Fields - wikipedia Cotton Fields This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( February 2012 ) `` Cotton Fields '' is a song written by American blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly, who made the first recording of the song in 1940. Contents 1 Early versions 2 The Beach Boys cover 2.1 Personnel 2.1. 1 Album version 2.1. 2 Single version 2.1. 3 Notes 3 Covers 4 Lyrics 5 Further use 6 References 7 External links Early versions Recorded by Lead Belly in 1940, `` Cotton Fields '' was introduced into the canon of folk music via its inclusion on the 1954 album release Odetta & Larry which comprised performances by Odetta at the Tin Angel nightclub in San Francisco with instrumental and vocal accompaniment by Lawrence Mohr : this version was entitled `` Old Cotton Fields at Home ''. The song 's profile was boosted via its recording by Harry Belafonte first on his 1958 album Belafonte Sings the Blues with a live version appearing on the 1959 concert album Belafonte at Carnegie Hall : Belafonte had learned `` Cotton Fields '' from Odetta and been singing it in concert as early as 1955. A # 13 hit in 1961 for The Highwaymen, `` Cotton Fields '' served as an album track for a number of C&W and folk - rock acts including Ferlin Husky ( The Heart and Soul of Ferlin Husky 1963 ), Buck Owens ( On the Bandstand 1963 ), the New Christy Minstrels ( Chim - Chim - Cheree 1965 ) and the Seekers ( Roving With The Seekers 1964 ) : Odetta also made a new studio recording of the song for her 1963 album One Grain of Sand. The Springfields included `` Cotton Fields '' on a 1962 EP release : this version is featured on the CD On an Island of Dreams : The Best of the Springfields. `` Cotton Fields '' was also recorded by Unit 4 + 2 for their Concrete and Clay album ( 1965 ). A rendering in French : `` L'enfant do '', was recorded in 1962 by Hugues Aufray and Petula Clark. The Beach Boys cover `` Cottonfields '' Single by The Beach Boys from the album 20 / 20 B - side `` The Nearest Faraway Place '' Released April 20, 1970 Format Vinyl Recorded August 15, 1969 ( single ) Genre Country rock Length 2 : 21 ( album version ) 3 : 05 ( single version ) Label Capitol Songwriter ( s ) Huddie Ledbetter Producer ( s ) Brian Wilson and Al Jardine ( album ) The Beach Boys ( single ) The Beach Boys singles chronology `` Add Some Music to Your Day '' ( 1970 ) `` Cottonfields '' ( 1970 ) `` Slip on Through '' ( 1970 ) `` Add Some Music to Your Day '' ( 1970 ) `` Cottonfields '' ( 1970 ) `` Slip on Through '' ( 1970 ) American rock band the Beach Boys recorded `` Cotton Fields '' on November 18, 1968 : the track with Al Jardine on lead vocals debuted on the group 's 1969 album 20 / 20. Dissatisfied with Brian Wilson 's arrangement of the song, Jardine later led the group to record a more country rock style version ; this version recorded on August 15, 1969, featured Orville `` Red '' Rhodes on pedal steel guitar. Entitled `` Cottonfields '', the track afforded the Beach Boys their most widespread international success while also consolidating the end of the group 's hit - making career in the US ( although they would enjoy periodic comebacks there ). `` Cottonfields '' would be the final Beach Boys ' single released on Capitol Records -- the group 's label since May 1962 -- and their last single released in mono. While barely making a dent in the US ( number 95 Record World, number 103 Billboard ) though promoted with an appearance on the network TV pop show Something Else, the song succeeded across the Atlantic, reaching number two in the UK 's Melody Maker chart and listed as the tenth - biggest seller of the year by the New Musical Express. Worldwide -- outside North America -- it nearly replicated the success of the group 's `` Do It Again '' two years before. It was number 1 in Australia, South Africa, Sweden and Norway, number 2 in Denmark, number 3 in Ireland, similarly top 5 in the United Kingdom, Japan, Spain and Rhodesia ; number 12 in the Netherlands, number 13 in New Zealand and number 29 in Germany. Because of this popularity, it was placed on the international ( ex-US ) release of the group 's Sunflower album. Personnel Sourced from Craig Slowinski. Album version Al Jardine -- lead vocals Brian Wilson -- keyboards, producer, arrangement Ed Carter -- guitar Al Vescovo -- possible banjo Lyle Ritz -- bass Hal Blaine -- drums Bill Peterson, Virgil Evans, Roy Caton -- horns Single version The Beach Boys Al Jardine -- lead vocals, guitar, producer, arrangement Carl Wilson -- guitar Dennis Wilson -- drums Bruce Johnston -- keyboards Additional personnel Ed Carter -- bass Daryl Dragon -- keyboards Orville `` Red '' Rhodes -- pedal steel guitar Frank Capp -- percussion Bill Peterson, Fred Koyen, David Edwards, Ernie Small -- horns The Beach Boys -- producer Notes The single version of the song has mild distortion due to compression, especially during the drum fills, and sporadic skipping can be heard from 1 : 03 to 1 : 31 in the song. This is much more noticeable in the stereo mix of the song. In the mono mix of the song featured in the Good Vibrations box set, the skipping is less audible and the song itself is in a slightly higher pitch than in this stereo version. Covers Bill Monroe 1962, Decca Records DL4266 The Highwaymen ( folk band ) in 1962 Johnny Cash on his 1962 album The Sound of Johnny Cash The Angels in 1963 that went to # 119 in the US Johnny Mann Singers on the 1963 album Golden Folk Song Hits -- Liberty LST - 7253 Esther Ofarim sang `` Cotton Fields '' live on television in 1963 & 1969, with her then husband Abi Ofarim. They also recorded a German version, `` Wenn ich bei Dir sein kann '' in 1964 Eddy Arnold ( with the Needmore Creek Singers ) on the 1964 album `` Folk Song Book '' Rose Marie on episode 102 of The Dick van Dyke Show `` The Alan Brady Show Goes to Jail '' ( 1964 ) The Carter Sisters on their album The Best of The Carter Family ( 1966 ) Webb Pierce on the 1966 Decca album Webb 's Choice Harry Dean Stanton, in one scene of the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke, plays a sped - up version Udo Jürgens a 1968 single Creedence Clearwater Revival on their ( 1969 ) album Willy and the Poor Boys. This version hit # 1 in Mexico in 1970. Elvis Presley in the 1970 movie Elvis : That 's the Way It Is Joe Dassin on 1989 Sony Music compilation Vol. 2. Donna Douglas on her 1989 album Back on the Mountain The Pogues on their 1989 album Peace and Love ( while this version references the original in its lyrics, the song itself is not a cover per se ) Teresa Brewer on The Muppet Show Tesla released a cover version as the B - side to the single Call It What You Want, released in 1991 Kitten recorded a version of the song on their 2007 album Yodeling Cowgirl Flatfoot 56 ( a Celtic Oi ! band ) covered it on their album Toil, released in 2012 Elton John on the Cotton Fields : 16 Legendary Covers From 1969 / 70 album, released in 2004 Lyrics The original Lead Belly lyrics state that the fields are `` down in Louisiana, just ten miles from Texarkana ''. Later versions ( e.g., Creedence Clearwater Revival 's ) say the fields are `` down in Louisiana, just about a mile from Texarkana ''. Both are geographically impossible, as Texarkana is about 30 miles north of the Arkansas -- Louisiana border. This song line suggests the writer had the widely held but mistaken belief that Texarkana is partially in Louisiana. Further Use The song and its various cover versions became a synonym of bluegrass music, as well far from actual cotton yielding regions. E.g. the German skiffle band Die Rhöner Säuwäntzt describe their style as Musik von den Baumwollfeldern der Rhön, translating into `` music played in the Rhön Mountains ( imaginary ) cotton fields ''. In Spanish, the song was covered by the ' 60s rock and roll group Los Apson. In order to keep the words sounding similar, the meaning of the song was completely changed. References Jump up ^ Gilliland, John ( 1969 ). `` Show 19 -- Blowin ' in the Wind : Pop discovers folk music. ( Part 2 ) '' ( audio ). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries. Jump up ^ McAleer, Dave ( 2004 ). Singles Top 20 Charts From 1954 To The Present Day. Backbeat Books. Jump up ^ http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,9653.0.html Jump up ^ http://www.esther-ofarim.de/Disco.htm Jump up ^ https://www.discogs.com/Elton-John-Cotton-Fields-16-Legendary-Covers-From-196970/release/11714438 Jump up ^ see Bo kömmsten du hää ? ; Wo kommst du denn her ? ( where you from ? ), Textbook, Die Rhöner Säuwäntzt, Lieder von den Baumwollfeldern der Rhön, 1995, ISBN 3931796086 ID : m37416m58671, Rhön Verlag 1995 Jump up ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aLXN9teNVQ External links 20 / 20 Songs Side one `` Do It Again '' `` I Can Hear Music '' `` Bluebirds over the Mountain '' `` Be with Me '' `` All I Want to Do '' `` The Nearest Faraway Place '' Side two `` Cotton Fields ( The Cotton Song ) '' `` I Went to Sleep '' `` Time to Get Alone '' `` Never Learn Not to Love '' `` Our Prayer '' `` Cabinessence '' Related articles `` Break Away '' `` Celebrate the News '' The Beach Boys Discography `` Ca n't Wait Too Long '' `` Walkin ' '' Surfin ' Safari Surfin ' U.S.A. Surfer Girl Little Deuce Coupe Shut Down Vol. 2 All Summer Long Christmas Album Today ! Summer Days ( And Summer Nights ! ! ) Party Pet Sounds Smiley Smile Wild Honey Friends 20 / 20 Sunflower Surf 's Up Carl and the Passions -- `` So Tough '' Holland 15 Big Ones Love You M.I.U. Album L.A. ( Light Album ) Keepin ' the Summer Alive The Beach Boys Still Cruisin ' Summer in Paradise Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 That 's Why God Made the Radio Sunflower Songs Side one `` Slip On Through '' `` This Whole World '' `` Add Some Music to Your Day '' `` Got to Know the Woman '' `` Deirdre '' `` It 's About Time '' Side two `` Tears in the Morning '' `` All I Wanna Do '' `` Forever '' `` Our Sweet Love '' `` At My Window '' `` Cool, Cool Water '' Outtakes `` Big Sur '' `` Fallin ' in Love '' `` Loop de Loop ( Flip Flop Flyin ' in an Aeroplane ) '' `` Games Two Can Play '' `` Good Time '' `` I Just Got My Pay '' `` Raspberries, Strawberries '' `` San Miguel '' `` Soulful Old Man Sunshine '' `` Take a Load Off Your Feet '' `` Walkin ' '' Related articles The Beach Boys discography Surfin ' Safari Surfin ' U.S.A. Surfer Girl Little Deuce Coupe Shut Down Vol. 2 All Summer Long Christmas Album Today ! Summer Days ( And Summer Nights ! ! ) Party Pet Sounds Smiley Smile Wild Honey Friends 20 / 20 Sunflower Surf 's Up Carl and the Passions -- `` So Tough '' Holland 15 Big Ones Love You M.I.U. Album L.A. ( Light Album ) Keepin ' the Summer Alive The Beach Boys Still Cruisin ' Summer in Paradise Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 That 's Why God Made the Radio The Beach Boys Al Jardine Mike Love Brian Wilson Carl Wilson Dennis Wilson Blondie Chaplin Ricky Fataar David Marks Bruce Johnston Studio albums Surfin ' Safari Surfin ' U.S.A. Surfer Girl Little Deuce Coupe Shut Down Volume 2 All Summer Long The Beach Boys ' Christmas Album The Beach Boys Today ! Summer Days ( And Summer Nights ! ! ) Beach Boys ' Party ! Pet Sounds Smiley Smile Wild Honey Friends 20 / 20 Sunflower Surf 's Up Carl and the Passions -- `` So Tough '' Holland 15 Big Ones The Beach Boys Love You M.I.U. Album L.A. ( Light Album ) Keepin ' the Summer Alive The Beach Boys Still Cruisin ' Summer in Paradise Stars and Stripes Vol. 1 That 's Why God Made the Radio Live albums Beach Boys Concert Live in London The Beach Boys in Concert Good Timin ' : Live at Knebworth England 1980 Songs from Here & Back Live -- The 50th Anniversary Tour Live in Sacramento 1964 Live in Chicago 1965 Graduation Day 1966 1967 -- Live Sunshine Selected compilations Endless Summer Rarities Made in U.S.A. Lost & Found ( 1961 -- 62 ) Good Vibrations : Thirty Years of The Beach Boys The Pet Sounds Sessions Endless Harmony Ultimate Christmas Hawthorne, CA The Smile Sessions Made in California The Big Beat 1963 Keep an Eye on Summer 1964 Beach Boys ' Party ! 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Wilson Musicianship of Brian Wilson Sea of Tunes Timeline Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cotton_Fields&oldid=856157378 '' Categories : 1963 singles Songs written by Lead Belly Lead Belly songs Creedence Clearwater Revival songs The Beach Boys songs Elvis Presley songs Trini Lopez songs Harry Belafonte songs Petula Clark songs Johnny Cash songs Elton John songs Odetta songs The Pogues songs Buck Owens songs Bill Monroe songs The Angels ( American group ) songs Number - one singles in Australia Number - one singles in Norway American folk songs 1940 songs Capitol Records singles Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from February 2012 All articles needing additional references Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from May 2016 Articles with unsourced statements from November 2015 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Italiano Norsk Norsk nynorsk Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 23 August 2018, at 08 : 03 ( UTC ). 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Question: who sang the old cotton fields back home
Answer: American blues musician Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Lead Belly