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 Nothing standing there High water everywhere High water risin', the shacks are slidin' down Folks lose their possessions and 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 Well, 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 a 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