Michelle Shocked Follow

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