Waist Deep In the Big Muddy

It was back in nineteen forty-two I was a member of a good platoon We were on maneuvers in Louisiana One night by the light of the moon The captain told us to ford a river That's how it all begun We were knee deep in the Big Muddy The big fool said to push on Well, the Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure This is the best way back to the base?" "Sergeant, go on, I forded this river 'Bout a mile above this place It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging We'll soon be on dry ground" We were waist deep in the Big Muddy The big fool said to push on Well, the Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment No man will be able to swim" "Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie" The Captain said to him "All we need is a little determination Men, follow me, I'll lead on" We were neck deep in the Big Muddy The big fool said to push on Well, all at once, the moon clouded over We heard a gurgling cry A few seconds later, the captain's helmet Was all that floated by The Sergeant said, "Turn around men I'm in charge from now on" And we just made it out of the Big Muddy With the captain dead and gone We stripped and dived and found his body Stuck in the old quicksand I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper Than the place he'd once before been Another stream had joined the Big Muddy 'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy When the big fool said to push on Well, I'm not going to point any moral I'll leave that for yourself Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking You'd like to keep your health But every time I read the papers Them old feeling come on We're waist deep in the Big Muddy The big fool says to push on Waist deep, neck deep Soon even a tall man will be over his head, We're waist deep in the Big Muddy The big fool says to push on