> Shirley Collins > Songs > Boll Weevil, Holler

Boll Weevil, Holler

[ Roud 3124 ; Laws I17 ; Ballad Index LI17 ; trad.]

Shirley Collins learned Boll Weevil, Holler from the singing of Vera Hall and recorded it in 1964 with Davy Graham for their album Folk Roots, New Routes.

Lyrics

Shirley Collins sings Boll Weevil, Holler

Hey hey boll weevil where is your native home?
Way down in Texas among the cotton and corn.
Boll weevil here, boll weevil everywhere,
Doggone the boll weevil,
He’s sitting on my square.

First time I seen him
He’s sitting on that square,
Next time I seen him
He had his family there,
He had his family there,
He had his family there.
Next time I seen him
He had his family there

Now the farmer asked the merchant
For some meat and meal,
Ain’t nothin doin, old man,
Boll weevil’s in your field,
Boll weevil’s in your field,
Boll weevil’s in your field.
Ain’t nothin doin, old man,
Boll weevil’s in your field.

Hey hey boll weevil where’s your native home?
Way down in Texas among the cotton and corn.
Among the cotton and corn,
Among the cotton and corn,
Way down in Texas among the cotton and corn.