Cotton Fields - Leadbelly - Strum Along Lesson - Jez Quayle

This Leadbelly song is presented with the lyrics, chords and a suggested strumming pattern, so you can play or sing along with me and learn how to perform this classic tune.
The lyrics and melody I sing here are from a 1940 Leadbelly recording. If you're familiar with the Beach Boys' or Creedence Clearwater Revival's 1960s versions, you'll notice some lyrical differences, such as the distance between Lou'siana and Texarkana. In reality the distance from Texarkana to the Louisiana border is about 34 miles (not 1 or 10).
In the 1950s the song was popularised in the UK by Chas McDevitt and Lonnie Donegan, and Cotton Fields became an essential song in the repertoires amateur UK skiffle groups, of which there were many thousands.
I hope you enjoy strumming along with me! - Jez

[colinsykes]

Great song to play along with. Well done,

[dirtworshiper]

I love this tune. I really like CCR version. Now I can play along with em both. Thanks so much.

[kaycarley]

Another one 😃! I trust you are still finding time to eat and sleep! Haven’t ever heard this song before but immediately liked it and am looking forward to trying it out 🎸

[LawrieFWhite]

Thank you Jez, I’ve grabbed this one too. The sing-a-long is alive and well in Brisbane 🇦🇺

[anthonymcmanus]

Brilliant, keep em coming.
I’ll have to get up to Yorkshire when you’re out playing again.

[martinzikovsky]

When I was a little baby . . . it has been a long time ago. :-)

[timomarra]

Great strum along!
Can you do some Beatles strum alongs?
Actually, anything you do is fantastic

[mrgildons]

I love this song :) the first rendition I heard was from Johnny Cash