Charley Patton

High Water Everywhere (Part 1)

Charley 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