Texty: Jeannie C. Riley. Cotton Patch.

I was raised in the middle of the cotton belt, babe
But I ain't gonna stay
I'll lose my shape fast draggin' cotton sacks
And eatin' butter beans everyday

Yeah, I'm a sweet young thing I just turned eighteen
And I'm unhookin' the latch
'Cause I've got too much class
For this cotton patch

I've been readin' magazines on
A once a week trip to town on Saturday
And I've seen all pretty clothes and had some rich men
And I know that's for me

Papa's been tryin' to pair me up with Willie Bond
Whose daddy owns the cotton gin
Ha, I done checked Willie out two years ago
And Willie knows I'm too much for him

It's Monday mornin' four o'clock got my sack packed
And I'm out here where the freeway runs
Here comes a truck I'm in luck
He's goin' straight through on a Dallas run

Yeah, I am headin' for big D and I know that's place
For me to really make a catch
Well, finally I'm a gettin' my class
Out of this cotton patch

I arrived in style aboard that big semi
And I felt mighty high
Waltzin' into the best department store
For employment to suit my style

And I was doin' pretty good
Till some wisecracker came on the scene
He called me a ripe tomato
But he said I sure look green

I tried ever door to ever store in town
But my luck had run down
It seemed nobody 'round Dallas could recognize
The class I'd brought to town

And after all day of looking would you believe
The only job I could land
Was in a dog food factory
Stickin' labels on dog food cans

Dear mama, how are you, pop and kids?
Hope you're doin' okay
Me, I never did find a better job
And all the rich men got away

Mama, I've been thinkin' pretty soon
You know I'll be nineteen
And I sure learned a lot about class fast
Mama, know what I mean?

Mama, if you'd ask papa if he'd spare a few dollars
I'd catch the next Greyhound comin' home
And I tell you if Willie Bond ain't committed
Yet, I'd be willin' to give it a try after all it's been two years