High Water (For Charley Patton)

High water risin', risin' night and day

All the gold and silver are being stolen away

Big Joe Turner lookin' East and West

From the dark room of his mind

He made it to Kansas City

Twelfth Street and Vine

There was nothing standing there

High water everywhere

High water risin'

The shacks are slidin' down

Folks lose their possessions

Folks are leaving town

Bertha Mason shook, it broke it

Then she hung it on a wall

Says, "You're dancin' with whom they tell you to

Or you don't dance at all"

It's tough out there

High water everywhere

I got a cravin' love for blazing speed

Got a hopped up Mustang Ford

Jump into the wagon, love

Throw your panties overboard

I can write you poems

Make a strong man lose his mind

I'm no pig without a wig

I hope you treat me kind

Things are breakin' up out there

High water everywhere

High water risin', six inches 'bove my head

Coffins droppin' in the street

Like balloons made out of lead

Water pourin' into Vicksburg

Don't know what I'm going to do

"Don't reach out for me," she said

"Can't you see I'm drownin' too?"

It's rough out there

High water everywhere

Well, George Lewis told the Englishman

The Italian and the Jew

"You can't open your mind, boys

To every conceivable point of view."

They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway Five

Judge says to the High Sheriff

"I want him dead or alive

Either one, I don't care."

High Water everywhere

The Cuckoo is a pretty bird

She warbles as she flies

I'm preachin' the Word of God

I'm puttin' out your eyes

I asked Fat Nancy for something to eat

She said, "Take it off the shelf

As great as you are, man

You'll never be greater than yourself."

I told her I didn't really care

High water everywhere

I'm getting' up in the morning

I believe I'll dust my broom

Keeping away from the women

I'm givin' 'em lots of room

Thunder rolling over Clarksdale

Everything is looking blue

I just can't be happy, love

Unless you're happy too

It's bad out there

High water everywhere