Cotton Road

Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road
Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road

They called it king cotton, and it sure made them into kings
But they hate to have to talk about those little things
Like stealing other people, using whips to make them work
That’s how they made their king come up through that southern dirt

Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road

Cotton road was paved with hateful glory, with the blood of honest men
Who were whipped and starved by masters who weren’t half a good as them
The Bible teaches there’s no value to ill-gotten gains
That filthy money came from putting free men into chains

Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road

Oh that cotton road has two lanes, two different kinds of tales
Two different sets of people who traveled different trails
One saw all the riches, the glory and the gain
The other to a life of heartbreak misery and pain

Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road

It wasn’t profit, it was plunder, that brought them all the wealth
Money made by people who didn’t dare see past themselves
Now the ghosts of all who worked the fields can’t rest until the time
When we all admit that money came from an evil crime

Oh that Cotton Road, that Cotton Road
That Cotton Road