High Water (For Charley Patton)

High water rising, rising night and day

All the gold and silver being stolen away

Big Joe Turner looking East and West from the dark room of his mind

He made it to Kansas City, 12th street and Vine

There was nothing standing there

High water everywhere

High water rising, shacks are sliding down

Folks lose there possessions, and folks are leaving town

Bertha Mason shook it broke it then she hung it on a wall

Said, you're dancing with whom they tell you to or you don't dance at all

It's tough out there

High water everywhere

I got a craving love for blazing speed, got a hopped up Mustang Ford

Jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties over board

I can write you poems, make a strong man loose his mind

I'm no pig without a wig, I hope you treat me kind

Things are breaking up out there

High water everywhere

High water rising, six inches above my head

Coffins dropping in the street like balloons made out of lead

Water pouring into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm gonna do

Don't reach out for me, she said, can't you see I'm drowning too

It's tough out there

High water everywhere

Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew

You can't open up your mind, boys, to ever conceivable point of view

They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on highway 5

Judge says to the high sheriff, I want him dead or alive

Either one, I don't care

High water everywhere

Well, the cuckoo is a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies

I'm preaching the word of God, I'm putting 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 giving '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