Introduction:
“California Cottonfields” is a heartfelt song that captures the struggles of migrant farmworkers, often referred to as “Okies,” who relocated to California in search of a better life during the Great Depression. Written by Dallas Frazier and Earl Montgomery, the song was first recorded by Merle Haggard and his band, The Strangers, in 1969, and later included on Haggard’s 1971 album Someday We’ll Look Back. The track speaks to Haggard’s empathy for migrant workers and his personal connection to the subject, as his own family moved to California from Oklahoma, similar to many families affected by the Dust Bowl.
Through its vivid lyrics and Haggard’s emotive delivery, the song reflects the challenges these migrants faced as they toiled in California’s cotton fields, often finding their dreams unmet. The song is part of Haggard’s broader body of work that frequently explores themes of hardship, resilience, and working-class struggles, helping cement his reputation as the “poet of the common man.” This piece is widely recognized for its authenticity and Haggard’s powerful storytelling, highlighting both his respect for his roots and his solidarity with those who endured similar hardships. It also resonated with a broader audience who experienced the tough realities of rural, working-class life in mid-century America, and remains one of Haggard’s notable contributions to country music.
In addition to Haggard’s version, “California Cottonfields” has been covered by various artists over the years, including Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons, reflecting its lasting influence in country and folk music.
Video:
Lyrics:
“California Cottonfields”
My driftin’ memory goes back to the spring of ’43,
When I was just a child in momma’s arms.
My daddy plowed the ground and promised someday we would leave
This run-down mortgaged Oklahoma farm.
Then one night I heard my daddy sayin’ to my momma
That he’d finally saved enough to go.
California was his dream, a paradise, for he had seen
Pictures in magazines that told him so.California Cottonfields,
Where labor camps were filled with weary men with broken dreams.
California Cottonfields,
As close to wealth as daddy ever came.Nearly everything we had was sold or left behind,
From my daddy’s plow to the soup that momma canned.
Some folks came to say farewell or see what all we had to sell;
Some just came to shake my daddy’s hand.
That model A was loaded down and California bound;
A change of luck was just 4 days away.
But the only change that I remember seeing in my daddy
Was when his dark hair turned to silver grey.California Cottonfields,
Where labor camps were filled with weary men with broken dreams.
California Cottonfields,
As close to wealth as daddy ever came.