I can hardly see my face in the waters of the muddy Mississippi But I can see the shadows of the cotton wood standing over me The morning sun would find me Swinging from the rope that's hanging free And I drop in to the waters And go swimming in the muddy Mississippi A boy came to the Delta And we would swing together from that tree I could see my dreams in his eyes As he held on to me Swinging in the sunlight Loving in the shadows Wild and free And I made him promise he would take me Down to New Orleans Bright lights of the city made my red dress and shoes look brand new While he worked the night shift I turned on and I turned loose I lost my pride I lost my man I did things a girl like me shouldn't do Now I can't face this living With the swelling signs of new life Showing through I can hardly see my face in the waters of the muddy Mississippi But I can see the shadows of the cotton wood standing over me The morning sun would find me Hanging from the rope that's swinging free And I'll swing for the last time over the waters Of the muddy Mississippi Yeah the muddy Mississippi