Rising High Water Blues - Blind 'Lemon' Jefferson

Backwater rising

Southern peoples can’t make no time

I said, backwater rising

Southern peoples can’t make no time

And I can’t get no hearing

From that Memphis girl of mine

Water in Arkansas

People screaming in Tennessee

Oh, people screaming in Tennessee

If I don’t leave Memphis

Backwater spill all over poor me

People, since its raining

It has been for nights and days

People, since its raining

Has been for nights and days

Thousands people stands on the hill

Looking down were they used to stay

Children stand there screaming:

Mama, we ain’t got no home

Oh, mama we ain’t got no home

Papa says to the children

«Backwater left us all alone»

Backwater rising

Come in my windows and door

The backwater rising

Come in my windows and door

I leave with a prayer in my heart

Backwater won’t rise no more