(extended Original Version) — Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe

If you’ve ever been to a wedding, a baseball game, or a school dance, you’ve likely heard the stomping fiddle and high-octane techno beats of . Released in August 1994 by the Swedish group Rednex , this "Euro-country" track became an global sensation, topping charts in 11 countries and cementing its place as one of the most recognizable "jock jams" of all time.

The takes the 3 minute and 14 second radio edit and pushes it further, emphasizing the track's unique "Euro-country" blend: Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe (Extended Original Version)

While the Rednex version focuses on the fun, the original folk lyrics are much older and shrouded in mystery. Dating back to the early 1800s, "Cotton Eye Joe" was a staple among enslaved African Americans in the South. If you’ve ever been to a wedding, a

To sell the track, the producers crafted an elaborate, fictional backstory. They claimed the band members were "hillbillies" from a remote, uncivilized village called , who had been brought to Sweden to discover music. Musical Breakdown of the Extended Original Dating back to the early 1800s, "Cotton Eye

Though some critics initially dismissed it as a "novelty" or found its portrayal of "redneck" culture stereotypical, the song's cultural footprint is undeniable. It won the prize for in 1995 and has been ranked by Billboard as one of the 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time.

It might seem strange that a group of Swedish techno producers—, Örjan Öberg , and Pat Reiniz —were the ones to revive a pre-Civil War American folk song. The inspiration allegedly came after Reiniz heard a 1992 recording of the song by the Irish group The Chieftains and American country singer Ricky Skaggs .

The meaning of "Cotton Eye" is still debated today, with theories ranging from: : A reference to being drunk on illicit spirits. Medical Conditions : Blindness caused by disease or injury.