before the beginning you know something already started oh in the summer smoking palace welcoming all the full hearted the sun will settle down with blind anticipation long that moon will shine it s light on a sordid celebration before cotton was king before sugar was queen rivers from the north lands stroll slowly to the sea givin birth to the city lights like it was always meant to be ships sail in with foreign hands some who never leave every child a woven basket the night is new years eve when cotton was king when sugar was queen float on shady the future is not afraid hold on shady cat on the back of time s parade float on shady the future is not afraid hold on shady cat to the back of time s parade same souls have lived this place forever and a hundred years every dazzling race so close that color disappears tigers circlin the tree they make butter on our bread some will say they ll have their day some that did have never said cotton was king oh sugar was queen rice is the lady in waiting oh cotton was king