Irma Thomas

Back Water Blues

Irma Thomas


When it rained five days 
and the skies 
turned dark as night 
When it rained five days 
and the skies 
turned dark as night
There was trouble takin' place 
in the lowland at night 

I woke up this mornin', 
couldn't even get out of my door 
I woke up this mornin', 
couldn't even get out of my door 
Enough trouble 
to make a poor woman wonder 
where she's gonna go 

They rowed a little boat 
just about five miles 
across the farm 
Said they rowed a little boat 
just about five miles 
across the farm 
I packed up all of my clothes, 
throwed them in, 
and they rowed me along 

Well it thundered and lightnin'd, 
and the winds began to blow 
Said it thundered and lightnin'd, 
and the winds began to blow 
There was thousands of people 
They had no place to go 

I went out and I stood 
on a high old lonesome hill 
I went out and I stood 
on a high old lonesome hill 
I looked down on the house 
where I used to live

Back Water Blues that calls me 
to pack my things and go 
Back Water Blues that calls me 
to pack my things and go 
Cause my house fell down, 
and I can't live there no more 
Ooh, I can't live there no more 
Ooh, I can't live there no more 
There ain't no place 
for a poor old woman to go