Jewel of the South Songtext
von Rodney Crowell

One fine mornin′ when the wild geese fly
I'm takin′ my chances on the sunny side
I'm headed down south where the grass grows tall
Where the mockingbirds singing and the whip-poor-will calls

Oh, the Spanish moss on the Natchez Trace
A Gulf wind blowing wide across my face
French girls dancing to a big bang drum
Back down south where I come from

Where the river flows like a warm molasses
Rain fogs up my reading glasses
Honey suckle, strong enough to curl your hair
Back down there

Oh, one fine mornin', gonna pull up stakes
I′m gonna chalk it all up as just a bad mistake
I′m gonna hit the decks running, bid a fond farewell
And by the time I get to Memphis, I'll be outta my shell


Oh, the cotton fields just as white as snow
A sweet magnolia blossoms grow
A big moon shinin′ like an ice cream cone
Back down south where I belong

Where the river flows like milk and honey
The nights are slow and the eggs are runny
I wouldn't mind sittin′ in a rocking chair
Back down there

Jewel of the south
I cross my heart, shut my mouth
Come the mornin', I′ll be home in the sweet delta dawn

On one fine mornin' and it won't be long
I′m leaving out early with my glad rags on
I′m gonna pull a load of wool off my own two eyes
And sharpen my senses countin' railroad ties

And when the mile long trestle makes a clickity-clack
The whole Dang town is gonna welcome me back
Take me to the land of the sugar cane
I′m back down on the Pontchartrain

Where the river flows like grand marnier
The sweet olive takes my breath away
Sunday mornin' walkin′ on the Jackson Square
I'm back down there


Jewel of the south
And cross my heart, shut my mouth
Come the mornin′, I'll be home in the sweet delta dawn
Come the mornin', I′ll be home in the sweet delta dawn

I wish I was in land of cotton