G High water rising, rising 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 VineF5 F#5 G Nothing standing thereF5 F#5 G High water everywhere High water rising, the shacks are sliding down Folks lose their possessions and folks are leaving town Bertha Mae she shook it, broke it, and she hung it on the wall Say: "You 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 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 'bove my head Coffins dropping in the street, like balloons made out of lead Water poured into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm gonna 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 Well, George Lewes told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew, "You can't open up your mind, boys, to any conceivable point of view, They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway 5" Judge says to the High Sheriff, "I want him dead or alive, Either one, I don't care" High water everywhere Well, 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 t' eat, she said, "Take it off the shelf As great as you are, man, you'll never be greater than yourself." I told her I didn't really care High water everywhere I'm gettin' up in the morning, I believe I'll dust my broom Keeping away from the women, I'm giving them lots of room Thunder rollin' over Clarksdale, everything a-lookin' blue I just can't be happy, love, unless you're happy too It's bad out there High water everywhere.