High Water (For Charley Patton)

High water risin', rising night and day

All the gold and silver are being stolen away

Big Joe turner looking east and west from the dark room of his mind

He made it to Kansas city, twelfth street and vine

Nothin' standing there

High water everywhere

High water rising the shacks are sliding down

Folks lose their possessions, the folks are leaving town

Reformation shook it, broke it, then she hung it on the wall

Say you 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 craven love for blazin' speed

I 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 rising, six inches above my head

Coffins droppin' in the street like balloons made out of lead

Water poured 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 rough out there

High water everywhere

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

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

They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on highway 5

Judge says to the high sheriff, I want them 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 someth'n' 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 get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom

Keepin' away from the women, I'm givin' them lots of room

Thunder rollin' over clarksdale, everythin' a-lookin' blue

I just can't be happy, love, unless you're happy too

It's bad out there

High water everywhere