Willie and Laura Mae Jones Songtext

von Tony Joe White

Willie and Laura Mae Jones
Were neighbours a long time back
They lived right down the road from us
In a shack just like our shack
We worked in the fields together
And we learned to count on each other
When you live off the land
You don't have time
To think about another man's color

Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast
But that was another place and another time

They'd sit out on the front porch in the evenin' when the sun went down
Willie would play and Laura would sing and the chilluns would dance around
And I'd bring over my guitar and we'd play into the night
And every now and then ol'Willie would grin and say "Boy you play allright"
And that made me feel so good"

The cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast
But that was another place and another time

I remember we'd hitch up the mules when Saturday rolled around
We'd always stop by Willie's house and say "Do you need anything from town?"
And he'd say "No, but why don't y'all stop on your way back home
And I'll get Laura Mae to cook up some corn pones
And you know they're good

Oh Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' fast
But that was another place and another time

The years rolled past the land and took back what they'd given
And we all knew we'd have to move if we was gonna make a livin'
So we all moved off and we went our separate ways
And it sure was hard to say goodbye to Willie and Laura Mae Jones

Oh the cotton was high and the corn was growing fast, yes it was
But that was another place and another time

The years roll past our door and we heard from them no more
Till I saw Willie down town the other day
I said "Y'all stop by tonight and we can sit down and eat a bite
We'd love to see your childrens and Laura Mae"
He shook his head real slow and spoke with his eyes so kind
"This is another place and another time!"

Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' gast
But that was another place and another time
Lord, Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growin' gast
But that was another place and another time

Lord, Lord, Lord, Lord, the cotton was high and the corn was growing so fast
But that was another place and another time
Good God!