High Water Everywhere: Part 1 - Charlie Patton

Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now,

drove me down the line

Backwater done rose at Sumner,

drove poor Charley down the line

Lord, I’ll tell the world the water,

done crept through this town

Lord, the whole round country,

Lord, river has overflowed

Lord, the whole round country,

man, is overflowed

You know I can’t stay here,

I’ll go where it’s high, boy

I would goto the hilly country,

but, they got me barred

Now, look-a here now at Leland

river was risin' high

Look-a here boys around Leland tell me,

river was raisin' high

Boy, it’s risin' over there, yeah

I’m gonna move to Greenville

fore I leave, goodbye

Look-a here the water now, Lordy,

Levee broke, rose most everywhere

The water at Greenville and Leland,

Lord, it done rose everywhere

Boy, you can’t never stay here

I would go down to Rosedale

but, they tell me there’s water there

Now, the water now, mama,

done took Charley’s town

Well, they tell me the water,

done took Charley’s town

Boy, I’m goin' to Vicksburg

Well, I’m goin' to Vicksburg,

for that high of mine

I am goin' up that water,

where lands don’t never flow

Well, I’m goin' over the hill where,

water, oh don’t ever flow

Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall

But, that whole county was leavin',

over that Tallahatchie shore Boy,

went to Tallahatchie and got it over there

Lord, the water done rushed all over,

down old Jackson road

Lord, the water done raised,

over the Jackson road

Boy, it starched my clothes

I’m goin' back to the hilly country,

won’t be worried no more