High Water (For Charley Patton) - Bob Dylan
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 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 Darwing 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
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