Cotton Patch Lyrics - Harper Valley P.t.a. (the Plantation Recordings 1968-70) - Jeannie C. Riley

I was raised in the middle of the cotton belt, babe 

But I ain't gonna stay 

I'll lose my shape fast draggin' cotton sacks 

And eatin' butter beans everyday 

Yeah, I'm a sweet young thing I just turned eighteen 

And I'm unhookin' the latch 

'Cause I've got too much class 

For this cotton patch 

I've been readin' magazines on 

A once a week trip to town on Saturday 

And I've seen all pretty clothes and had some rich men 

And I know that's for me 

Papa's been tryin' to pair me up with Willie Bond 

Whose daddy owns the cotton gin 

Ha, I done checked Willie out two years ago 

And Willie knows I'm too much for him 

It's Monday mornin' four o'clock got my sack packed 

And I'm out here where the freeway runs 

Here comes a truck I'm in luck 

He's goin' straight through on a Dallas run 

Yeah, I am headin' for big D and I know that's place 

For me to really make a catch 

Well, finally I'm a gettin' my class 

Out of this cotton patch 

I arrived in style aboard that big semi 

And I felt mighty high 

Waltzin' into the best department store 

For employment to suit my style 

And I was doin' pretty good 

Till some wisecracker came on the scene 

He called me a ripe tomato 

But he said I sure look green 

I tried ever door to ever store in town 

But my luck had run down 

It seemed nobody 'round Dallas could recognize 

The class I'd brought to town 

And after all day of looking would you believe 

The only job I could land 

Was in a dog food factory 

Stickin' labels on dog food cans 

Dear mama, how are you, pop and kids? 

Hope you're doin' okay 

Me, I never did find a better job 

And all the rich men got away 

Mama, I've been thinkin' pretty soon 

You know I'll be nineteen 

And I sure learned a lot about class fast 

Mama, know what I mean? 

Mama, if you'd ask papa if he'd spare a few dollars 

I'd catch the next Greyhound comin' home 

And I tell you if Willie Bond ain't committed 

Yet, I'd be willin' to give it a try after all it's been two years