Probably the
worst enemy a
cotton farmer ever had. The boll weevil
lays its eggs inside the unripe
cotton boll, and the young weevils eat their way out. Boll weevils arrived in the
United States from
Mexico in
1892 and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the boll weevil was causing
billion dollar devastations in America's cotton crops.
The Boll Weevil Song
(author unknown)
The first time I saw little Weevil
He was on the Western Plain.
Next time I saw the Weevil
he was riding a Memphis train.
He was looking for a home, just looking for
a home.
When the Farmer saw those Boll Weevils
They were in his rocking chair.
The next time they were in his corn field
and they had all their family there,
Just fixing up a home, yes, fixing up a home.
The Boll Weevil say to the Farmer,
"You can ride in that Ford machine,
But when I get through with your cotton
you can't buy gasoline,
You won't have no home, won't have no
home."
The Merchant said to the Farmer,
"Well, what do you think of that?
If you'll get rid of the Weevil
I'll give you a brand new Stetson hat.
He's looking for a home, just looking for a home."
The Farmer took little Weevil
And put him in Paris Green.
The Weevil said to the Farmer,
"It's the best I've ever seen.
I'm goin' to have a home, a happy home."
The Farmer took the Boll Weevil
And put him in a frying pan.
Weevil said to the Farmer,
"It's mighty warm, but I'll stand it like a man.
This will be my home, yes, this will be my home."
The Weevil grabbed the Farmer
And throwed him in the sand
Put on the Farmer's overcoat
and stood up like a natural man.
Said, "I'm going to have a home, a happy
home."
The Farmer said to the Merchant,
"I need some meat and meal."
"Get away from here you son of a gun,
you got Boll Weevils in your field.
Going to get your home, going to get your home."
The Farmer said to the Merchant,
"I didn't make but one bale,
But before I let you have that one
I'll suffer and die in jail.
I'll have a home, I'll have a home!"
Well, the Merchant got half the cotton,
The Boll Weevils got the rest.
Didn't leave the poor Farmer's wife
but one old cotton dress,
And it's full of holes, all full of holes.