Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Me and my gal can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my gal can pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Me and my wife can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my wife can pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Me and my friend can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my friend can pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale of cotton
Jump down, turn around to pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Oh Lordy, pick a bale of cotton, oh Lordy,
Pick a bale a day.
Me and my papa can pick a bale of cotton,
Me and my papa can pick a bale a day.
About This Song
"Pick a Bale of Cotton" is a powerful work song that transforms the brutal reality of cotton picking into a rhythmic expression of endurance and defiance, with Leadbelly's version capturing both the physical demands and spiritual resilience of agricultural laborers. The repetitive, call-and-response structure mirrors the monotonous yet backbreaking work of cotton harvesting, while the religious invocations ("Great God Almighty") reveal how workers found strength through faith during exploitative labor conditions. Musically, it features Leadbelly's distinctive twelve-string guitar and driving rhythm that matches the picking motion, creating an almost hypnotic work chant that helped laborers maintain pace and morale. The song's themes explore the tension between human dignity and economic exploitation, as the seemingly celebratory tone masks the harsh realities of sharecropping and agricultural work in the American South. Leadbelly's interpretation stands as both a historical document of labor conditions and a testament to how music served as survival and resistance for marginalized communities.
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