Music Video
Featured In
Top Songs By Johnny Cash
Similar Songs
Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Johnny Cash
Vocals
Steve Ferrone
Drums
Tom Petty
Background Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Bobby George
Composer
Charlie Williams
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Rick Rubin
Producer
David Ferguson
Engineer
Eddie Miller
Assistant Engineer
Eddy Schreyer
Mastering Engineer
Gene Grimaldi
Mastering Engineer
Greg Fidelman
Assistant Engineer
John Ewing
Assistant Engineer
Michael Stock
Assistant Engineer
Sylvia Massy
Mixing Engineer
Lyrics
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my Daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
When I was just a baby too little for the cotton sack
I played in the dirt while the others worked
'Til they couldn't straighten up their backs
And I made myself a promise when I was old enough to run
That I'd never stay a single day in that Oklahoma sun
And I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my Daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
Folks said that I grew up early and the farm couldn't hold me then
So I stole ten bucks and a pickup truck and I never went back again
And it was fast cars and whiskey, long legged girls and fun
I had everything that money could bring and I took it all with a gun
And I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my Daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
It was Saturday night in Memphis when a redneck grabbed my shirt
And he said, "Go back to your cotton sack", I left him lying in the dirt
And they'll take me in the morning to the gallows just outside
And in the time I've got there ain't a hell of a lot
I can look back on with pride
But I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my Daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
I never picked cotton
Like my mother did and my brother did
And my sister did and my Daddy died young
Workin' in a coal mine
Writer(s): Charlie Williams, Bobby George
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