It might be argued by the uninformed that manual labor in the southern cotton fields of the United States ended with the conclusion of the Civil War and the adoption of the 14^th Amendment to the Constitution. The abolition of slavery and the industrialization of the United States, the argument continues, had reduced the need for field workers. We find that there is convincing evidence that such a conclusion would be false.

The need for cotton field workers and tenant farming in general continued well into the 20^th century. The names and faces may change but not the need for manual laborers. It is not the purpose of this essay to document the history of migrant workers who may pick vegetables in southern California, oranges in Florida or potatoes in New England. We know this to be true although we close our eyes to these workers’ toils.

Slavery officially ended following the Civil War. That is true, but the concept has morphed into outsourced labor in the Chinese gulag, sweatshops in India and Central America, and migrant laborers. It’s all very profitable, and it’s this ability to profit at the expense of the vulnerable which keeps the system in operation. Maybe we should take the time to contemplate this fact when we shop at a dollar store or buy our fruits and vegetables?

This essay focuses on cotton pickers in the southern United States. Work songs are a part of American history, in particular in these cotton fields but also extending to the Gandy Dancers as they helped to lay track for the railroads. The origin of “Pick a Bale of Cotton” is not known. The verses are varied depending on the source. Credits for the song do not appear until the 1930s, but it is known that different versions of the song were sung by the workers in the cotton fields during the 19^th century. The purpose of these work songs was to ease the burden of their labor. However, in the case of the Gandy Dancers work songs also played an important part in the coordination of laying the track with pry bars.

“Pick a Bale of Cotton”

“We’re gonna jump down turn around

pick a bale of cotton,

jump down turn around pick a bale a day.

Jump down turn around

pick a bale of cotton,

jump down turn around pick a bale a day.

Well, me and my papy gonna

pick a bale of cotton,

me and my papy gonna pick a bale a day.

Me and my papy gonna

pick a bale of cotton,

me and my papy gonna pick a bale a day.

Hey, Lordie pick a bale of cotton,

hey, Lordie pick a bale a day.

Hey, Lordie pick a bale of cotton,

hey, Lordie pick a bale a day.

A little bit of speed.”