The Boll Weevil Blues
First recording and first release by Fiddlin' John Carson (March 1924 / May 1924)
- Written by
- [Traditional]
- Language
- English
- Comments
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A traditional blues song, also known as "Boll Weevil' and "Boweavil". The lyrics deal with the boll weevil, a beetle, which feeds on cotton buds and flowers.
In 1892 he came crawling in from Mexico into Texas, with all of his little friends and relatives. When they'd eaten up Texas they migrated to Louisiana in 1903 and another five years later to Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia.
Many songs about the boll weevil, with varying tunes and/or varying lyrics, were recorded by blues musicians during the 1920s through the 1940s.
However this Texas version (with the familiar just looking for a home verse) collected by John Lomax in 1909 from a blind singer (probably Madkin Butler) from Hearne, Texas and subsequently recorded by Leadbelly in 1934 and (his best known version) in 1939, led to its becoming well-known.
Not to be confused with the so-called Alabama version of "Boll Weevil" which has a different melody and some floating lyrics.
nor with Boll Weevil Blues as written by Cliff Hess,
nor with Blind Willie McTell 's "Boll Weevil", - Licensing
- Request a synchronization license