Rising High Water Blues

soundclip

by Blind Lemon Jefferson
recording of May 1927, Chicago, Illinois
from Blind Lemon Jefferson (Ace CDCH 399) & Blind Lemon Jefferson, Vol. 2 (Document 5018) & Blind Lemon Jefferson (Milestone 47022) & Best of Blind Lemon Jefferson (Wolf 16), copyright notice

Backwater¹ 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

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Note: this song refers to the catastrophic great Mississippi flood of 1927. Issued by Paramount under catalogue no. 12487;
Note 1: backwater, mostly old river beds which are left to take the excess flood water to relieve pressure on the levees.