Yamboree Queen Lyrics

Well out in East Texas where I come from we have this festival every year called the Yamboree. I know some of you have not heard of this Yamboree so let me hip you to it. It's been something we East Texans have been celebrating for over seventy years. Well it seems that one time Gilmer, that's my hometown in Upshur County, was the largest grower of yams. Sometimes called sweet potatoes. But back during the Great Depression (and don't ask me what was so great about it) the government paid 'em to put those yams out to dairy pasture. Well, funny as it may seem this Yamboree goes on in this area what no longer grows sweet potatoes. Except for the old farmers who still grow them in their gardens, still give 'em to their wives, who still make sweet potato pie for that sweet potato pie bake-off. And then they elect themselves a Yam Queen. They hold a big parade, a dance in the square, all kinds of hooptydoo and it's in honor of something, I would like to remind you, that we've not grown for over forty years now. That's East Texas. That's America. Ah Yamboree Queen You are the prettiest gal I've ever seen Jump down from your throne, come and sit by me, baby I'm you're sweet potato man Yes I yam, yes I yam Now Athens, Texas has a Black-Eyed Pea Queen I suppose Brussels has a Brussel Sprout Queen But on down in Gilmer we make sweet potato pie And it will really knock you out So I'm a-going down to Gilmer if I have to walk I'm going to sweet talk that sweet thing with my sweet potato talk And before the night is over I'm going to have me some sweet potato pie Yes I yam, yes I yam Now the Buckeye Band is playing on the square To the strains of Sweet Adeline But I'm going back for just one more helping of That sweet potato pie (mighty fine) And the Yamboree Queen She's sitting right next to me We're like two sweet potatoes sitting on a vine And I'm gonna make her my sweet potato gal And she's gonna make me sweet potato pie All the time Ah Yamboree Queen You are the prettiest gal I've ever seen Jump down from your throne, come and sit by me 'Cause I'm you're sweet potato man Yes I yam, yes I yam Oh yes I yam, mmm yes I yam Ow yes I yam, yes I yam