Build a Levee
Natalie Merchant Lyrics
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"Beware of the the devil my child in the dark rocky places he'll keep
Beware of the devil my child Beware of his charming ways
You'll fall under a spell just looking at his beautiful face
You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside"
"Don't go walking by the riverside alone in the pale moonlight
He'll come up upon you girl with no earthly body in sight
Come up on you girl and and he'll whisper something sweet
Then take you where the waters rise so high and run so deep"
"You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high"
Now when I was just a little girl my mamma said to me
"Beware of the the devil my child but if by chance you should meet
Beware his cold dark eyes full of bold and unholy deceit
He'll tempt you with a whirling pool of lies
And promises he'll deny or that he will never keep"
"You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high"
Natalie Merchant's song "Build a Levee" tells a cautionary tale of the dangers of temptation and the need for self-protection. The song is inspired by a warning that Merchant's mother gave her when she was a child, cautioning her to be wary of the devil's seductive ways, particularly around dark and rocky places or bodies of water. The lyrics suggest that falling under the spell of temptation can lead to being swept away by the "riverside" and the "whirling pool of lies" that the devil presents.
The imagery of building a levee acts as a metaphor for protecting oneself against these temptations, both inside and out. Merchant implores the listener to "build yourself a levee deep inside" to guard against the allure of the devil, and to do so especially when the "waters run high," when one is particularly susceptible to being pulled under.
As the song progresses, the lyrics suggest that there is a certain inevitability to encountering temptation, and that it is necessary to be prepared when that happens. The devil is described as having "cold dark eyes full of bold and unholy deceit," that will tempt the listener with false promises that he will never keep. In this way, the song is a warning to be vigilant and to have a strong, internal defense against the seductive powers of temptation.
Overall, "Build a Levee" is an evocative and haunting song that speaks to the need for self-preservation and awareness in the face of danger.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was just a little girl my mamma said to me
The singer remembers her mother warning her about the devil when she was young.
"Beware of the devil my child in the dark rocky places he'll keep
The devil hides in scary and dangerous locations.
Beware of the devil my child Beware of his charming ways
The devil may seem charming but he is dangerous.
You'll fall under a spell just looking at his beautiful face
The devil is tempting and can make people lose control of themselves.
You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside"
To protect herself, the singer has to build internal defenses.
"Don't go walking by the riverside alone in the pale moonlight
The devil may appear in the form of a stranger by the river at night.
He'll come up upon you girl with no earthly body in sight
The devil may be invisible to the naked eye.
Come up on you girl and and he'll whisper something sweet
The devil is sweet-talking and manipulative.
Then take you where the waters rise so high and run so deep"
The devil will lure the singer into danger and temptation.
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high"
The singer instructs herself to be prepared and protect herself when faced with temptations.
Now when I was just a little girl my mamma said to me
The singer repeats her mother's warning later in life as a way to remind herself and others.
"Beware of the devil my child but if by chance you should meet
Meeting the devil is a rare but not impossible occurrence.
Beware his cold dark eyes full of bold and unholy deceit
The devil's eyes are a reflection of his character: dishonest and sinful.
He'll tempt you with a whirling pool of lies
The devil will offer false promises and ideas to mislead and manipulate.
And promises he'll deny or that he will never keep"
The devil is notorious for betraying people and not keeping his word.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: NATALIE A MERCHANT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind