Cotton Jenny is one of my favourite Lightfoot songs, but I'd like to know any opinions as to the background and story behind this song.

I don't qualify as an expert, although I've been a fan since the early '70's. But I believe at one time Gord made a foray into country music, and also I understand that Canada in general is much more into country music than the US outside of the South. I do hear a little of that in a number of his songs. So, that's not much, but maybe somebody else knows more.