In high cotton

Posted by Lebrun H. on October 11, 2004

From the picker's viewpoint 'In high cotton' meant he/ she didn't have to stoop so low, the cotton bolls were thick on the stalk and easy pickin's. Used to indicate that times were good.
Conversely, to be in 'Low cotton', stalks, usually in the hill country, were less than two- three feet high and bolls were sparce making the picker work much harder. i.e. 'I'm in low cotton' meant things weren't going well, didn't feel good, etc.