The Boll Weevil Song

Album: The Boll Weevil Song and 11 Other Great Hits (1961)
Charted: 30 2
Play Video
  • Let me tell ya a story about a boll weevil
    Now, some of you may not know
    But a boll weevil is an insect
    And he's found mostly where cotton grows
    Now, where he comes from, hm, nobody really knows
    But this is the way the story goes

    The farmer said to the boll weevil
    "I see you're on the square"
    Boll weevil said to the farmer
    "Say yep, my whole darn family's here"

    The farmer said to the boll weevil
    "Say, why do you pick my farm"
    The weevil just laughed at the farmer 'n' said
    "We ain't gonna do ya much harm"
    Ho-o-o-o-o,-o-o-o, -o-o-o, o-o-ome"

    And the boll weevil spotted a lightning bug.
    He said "Hey, I'd like to make a trade with you
    But, ya see if I was a lightning bug
    I'd search the whole night through"

    And the boll weevil called the farmer, 'n' he said
    "Ya better sell your old machines
    'Cause when I'm through with your cotton
    Heh, you can't even buy gasoline
    "Stake me a home, gotta have a home

    And the boll weevil said to the farmer, said " Farmer
    I'd like to wish you well"
    Farmer said to the boll weevil
    "Yeah, an' I wish that you were in ****" home
    Lookin' for a home
    (Ahh, you have a home all right, you have a home
    (A real hot home, ahhh Writer/s: Brook Benton, Clyde Lovern Otis
    Publisher: Third Side Music Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1961 {July 10th} Brook Benton's "The Boll Weevil Song"* peaked at #2 {for 4 weeks} on Billboard's Hot R&B Sides chart, for the four weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those four weeks was "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis...
    It also reached #2 {for 3 weeks} on the Billboard's Top 100 chart, and it was "Tossin' and Turnin'" that was at #1 for those three weeks...
    Between 1958 and 1978 the Lugoff, South Carolina native had thirty six records on the Hot R&B Sides chart, twenty made the Top 10 with seven reaching #1...
    Two of his thirty six charted records were duets with Dinah Washington and both peaked at #1, "Baby, You Got What It Takes" for ten weeks in February of 1960 and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall In Love)" for four non-consecutive weeks in June of 1960...
    Mr. Benton passed away on April 9th, 1988 at the young age of 56 {pneumonia}
    May he R.I.P.
    * "The Boll Weevil Song" was Brook Benton's second of three of his records to peak at #2 on the Hot R&B Sides chart, his other two #2 records were "For You Baby" for one week in April of 1961 and "Hotel Happiness" for one week in December of 1962...
    And from the 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of Billboard's Hot R&B Sides' Top 10 on July 10th, 1961:
    At #3. "Every Beat of My Heart" by The Pips
    #4. "Quarter To Three" by Gary 'U. S.' Bonds
    #5. "Raindrops" by Dee Clark
    #6. "I Don't Mind" by James Brown and The Famous Flames
    #7. "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King
    #8. "Peace of Mind" by B. B. King
    #9. "I Like It Like That" by Chris Kenner
    #10. "I'm Comin' On Back To You" by Jackie Wilson
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn April 12th 1959, Brook Benton performed "It's Just A Matter of Time" on the CBS-TV variety program 'The Ed Sullivan Show'...
    At the time "It's Just A Matter of Time" was at #3 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, it was at #3 for 1 week and that was also it's peak position on the chart, the week it was at #3, the #2 record was "Come Softly To Me" by the Fleetwoods and at #1 was "Venus" by Frankie Avalon...
    Between 1958 and 1971 Mr. Benton had forty-eight Top 100 records; eight made the Top 10, his highest charting record was "The Boll Weevil Song", it peaked at #2* {for 3 weeks} on July 10th, 1961...
    * The three weeks "The Boll Weevil Song" was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The Kingdom

Gavin Rossdale On Lyric Inspirations and Bush's Album The KingdomSongwriter Interviews

The Bush frontman on where he finds inspiration for lyrics, if his "machine head" is a guitar tuner, and the stories behind songs from the album The Kingdom.

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

George Harrison

George HarrisonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really steal George's wife? What's the George Harrison-Monty Python connection? Set the record straight with our Fact or Fiction quiz.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.