Boll Weevil

Key of G · Chords: I V

Verse 1

        G
Oh, the boll weevil is a little black bug, comes from Mexico they say.

Verse 2

Came all the way to Texas, came a lookin’ for a place to stay.
                     D7                         G
came a lookin’ for a home, came a lookin’ for a home.

Verse 3

         G
Now, the first time I saw that little black bug, he was sittin’ up on a plant.

Verse 4

I said hey there boll weevil, if you think you’re gonna stay you can’t.
                   D7                       G
Go a lookin’ for a home, Go a lookin’ for a home.

Verse 5

          G
Well, the next thing I knew, that little black bug crawled around without a care.

Verse 6

He was mighty well contented, ‘case he had his family there.
                   D7                       G
He was makin’ up a home, He was makin’ up a home.

Verse 7

      G
I got mad and told the little black bug, gonna spray you till y’all die,

Verse 8

and the weevil said if you do it, my pals will come and multiply.
                       D7                           G
‘cause we gotta have a home, ‘cause we gotta have a home,

Verse 9

     G
So I got on my knees, Boll Weevil, said I, you’re a treatin’ me with scorn.

Verse 10

You done et up my cotton, and you’re startin’ in on my corn.
                       D7                           G
Can’t you find another home? Can’t you find another home?

Verse 11

         G
When the merchants came round to buy the cotton crop, I didn’t have a bale to sell.

Verse 12

I couldn’t pay the mortgage, and heavily in debt I fell.
                    D7                        G
Now I haven’t got a home, Now I haven’t got a home,
                    D7                        G    G6
Now I haven’t got a home, Now I haven’t got a home.

Verse 13

There are many versions of this traditional folk song. I like this version because it tells the story
clearly and cleverly. I've made some minor modifications to make it easier to sing the lyrics.