G G G C
G C G D
G G G C
C G D G


[Verse 1]

G                           C     D
What’s to be done with a prodigal son?
G           C          G   D
Welcome him home with open arms.
G                    C         D
Throw a big party, invite your friends
    G     D         C    D
Our boy’s come back home.


[Bridge 1]

G G C D


[Verse 2]

       G                       C         D
When a girl goes home with the oats he's sown
     G         C               G        D
It’s draw your shades and your shutters
      G                          C      D
She’s bringing such shame to the family name
      G           D        C        D
The return of the prodigal daughter


[Refrain]

          G   D           C    D
Singing, "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"


[Verse 3]

G                          C      D
Went to see a doctor and I almost died
G              C            G       D
When I told my mama, Lordy, how she cried
G                    C         D
Me and my daddy were never too close
    G      D            C          D
But he was there when I needed him most


[Chorus]

G                  C        D
Look, here comes a prodigal son
G           C             G     D
Fetch him a tall drink of water
            G                          C            D
But there’s none in the cup 'ause he drank it all up
G    D     C    D   G
Left for a prodigal daughter


[Refrain]

          G   D           C   D
Singing, "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"


[Bridge 2]

G G G C
G C G D
G G G C
C G D G


[Refrain]

  G   D           C   D
 "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"
  G   D           C   D
 "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"


[Bridge 3]

G G C C G C D G
G G C C G C D G
G G C C G C D G
G G C C G C D G


[Segue 1]

G                         C           D
Had not have been for the Cotton Eyed Joe
G                            C    D
I’d have been married a long time ago
G                                D    G
Oh, I’d have been married a long time ago


[Bridge 4]

G G C C
G C D G


[Segue 2]

G                      C          D
Out in the cornfield I stubbed my toe
G                        C           D
I called for the doctor, Cotton-Eyed Joe
G                        D           G
I called for the doctor, Cotton-Eyed Joe


[Bridge 5]

G G C C
G C D G


[Chorus]

G                C          D
Look, here comes a prodigal son
G           C             G     D
Fetch him a tall drink of water
            G                         C            D
But there’s none in the cup 'cause he drank it all up
G    D     C    D   G
Left for a prodigal daughter


[Refrain]

          G   D           C   D
Singing, "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"
          G   D           C   D
Singing, "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"
          G   D           C   D
Singing, "Oh, Cotton-Eyed Joe"


[Outro]

G G C D
G G C D
G G C D