High Water (for Charley Patton) Lyrics - 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 darwin 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 

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