High Water (for Charlie Patton) Lyrics - Joan Osborne

High water risin'—risin' night and day 

All the gold and silver are being stolen away 

Big Joe Turner looking east and west 

From the dark room of his mind 

He made it to Kansas City 

Twelfth Street and Vine 

Nothin' standing there 

High water everywhere 

High water rising, the shacks are sliding 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 dancing with whom they tell you to 

Or you don't dance at all" 

It's tough out there 

High water everywhere 

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I got a craving love for blazing speed 

Got a hopped-up Mustang Ford 

Jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties on the board 

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 breaking up out there 

High water everywhere 

High water rising, six inches above my head 

Coffins dropping in the street 

Like balloons made out of lead 

Water pouring 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 drowning too? 

It's rough out there 

High water everywhere 

Photos 

Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew 

"ou 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 preaching the Word of God 

I'm putting 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 giving them lots of room 

Thunder rolling over Clarkesdale, 

Everything is looking blue 

I just can't be happy, love 

Unless you're happy too 

It's bad out there 

High water everywhere