Get ready to practice your pronunciation by singing the song Cotton Eye Joe by the Swedish band Rednex! The chorus is practically impossible to understand at first, even for native English speakers! That is because the singer sings in a more familiar style, using what is called reduced speech. Say each of the sentences below to practice the “proper” way to say each sentence of the chorus.
Great! Now you are ready to sing! You will need to sing a slightly modified way:
If it hadn’t been for Cotton-Eye Joe,
I’d been married long time ago.
Where dija come from, where dija go
Where dija come from Cotton-Eye Joe?
Official Song Lyrics
If it hadn’t been for Cotton-Eye Joe
I’d been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
I’d been married long time ago
Where did you come from, where did you go?
Where did you come from, Cotton-Eye Joe?
He came to town like a midwinter storm
He rode through the fields, so handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun
He rode through the fields, so handsome and strong
His eyes was his tools and his smile was his gun
But all he had come for was having some fun
He brought disaster wherever he went
The hearts of the girls was to Hell, broken, sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
And left only men ’cause of Cotton-Eye Joe
The hearts of the girls was to Hell, broken, sent
They all ran away so nobody would know
And left only men ’cause of Cotton-Eye Joe
Source : Musixmatch