Patton was born in Hinds County, Mississippi, near the town of Edwards, and lived most of his life in Sunflower County in the Mississippi Delta. Some sources say he was born May 1, 1891, but there is some debate about this, and the years 1887 and 1894 have also been suggested.
Patton's parentage and race have been the subject of debate. Although born to Bill and Annie Patton, locally he was regarded as having been fathered by former slave Henderson Chatmon, many of whose other children also became popular Delta musicians both as solo acts and as members of groups such as the Mississippi Sheiks. Biographer John Fahey describes Patton as having "light skin and Caucasian features." Though Patton was considered African-American, because of his light complexion there have been rumors that he was Mexican, or possibly a full-blood Cherokee, a theory endorsed by Howlin' Wolf. In actuality, Patton was a mix of white, black, and Cherokee (one of his grandmothers was a full-blooded Cherokee). Patton himself sang in "Down the Dirt Road Blues" of having gone to "the Nation" and "the Territo'"—meaning the Cherokee Nation portion of the Indian Territory (which became part of the state of Oklahoma in 1907), where a number of Black Indians tried unsuccessfully to claim a place on the tribal rolls and thereby obtain land.
In 1900, his family moved 100 miles (160 km) north to the legendary 10,000-acre (40 km2) Dockery Plantation sawmill and cotton farm near Ruleville, Mississippi. It was here that both John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf fell under the Patton spell as well as Willie Brown, Tommy Johnson, and Fiddlin' Joe Martin. It was also here that Robert Johnson played and was given his first guitar. At Dockery, Charley fell under the tutelage of Henry Sloan, who had a new, unusual style of playing music which today would be considered very early blues. Charley followed Henry Sloan around, and, by the time he was about 19, had become an accomplished performer and songwriter in his own right, having already composed "Pony Blues," a seminal song of the era.
Robert Palmer describes Patton as a "jack-of all-trades bluesman" who played "deep blues, white hillbilly songs, nineteenth-century ballads, and other varieties of black and white country dance music with equal facility". He was extremely popular across the Southern United States and also performed annually in Chicago, Illinois and, in 1934, New York City. In contrast to the itinerant wandering of most blues musicians of his time, Patton played scheduled engagements at plantations and taverns. Long before Jimi Hendrix impressed audiences with flashy guitar playing, Patton gained notoriety for his showmanship, often playing with the guitar down on his knees, behind his head, or behind his back. Although Patton was a small man at about 5 foot 5,[8] his gravelly voice was rumored to have been loud enough to carry 500 yards without amplification. Patton's gritty bellowing was a major influence on the singing style of his young friend Chester Burnett, who went on to gain fame in Chicago as Howlin' Wolf.
Patton settled in Holly Ridge, Mississippi with his common-law wife and recording partner Bertha Lee in 1933. He died on the Heathman-Dedham plantation near Indianola on April 28, 1934 and is buried in Holly Ridge (both towns are located in Sunflower County). Patton's death certificate states that he died of a mitral valve disorder. Bertha Lee is not mentioned on the certificate, the only informant listed being one Willie Calvin. His death was not reported in the newspapers. A memorial headstone was erected on Patton's grave (the location of which was identified by the cemetery caretaker C. Howard who claimed to have been present at the burial) paid for by musician John Fogerty through the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund in July, 1990. The spelling of Patton's name was dictated by Jim O'Neal, who also composed the Patton epitaph.
Screamin' and Hollerin' the Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton (2001) is a boxed set collecting Patton's recorded works. It also featured recordings by many of his friends and associates. The set won three Grammy Awards in 2003 for Best Historical Album, Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package, and Best Album Notes. Another collection of Patton recordings, released under Catfish Records, is titled The Definitive Charley Patton.
Charley Patton's song "Pony Blues" (1929) was included by the National Recording Preservation Board in the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry in 2006. The board selects songs in an annual basis that are "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
In 2013 Jack White's Third Man Records teamed up with Document Records to reissue The Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order of Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell and The Mississippi Sheiks.
The Mississippi Blues Trail placed its first historic marker on Charley Patton's grave in Holly Ridge, Mississippi, in recognition of his legendary status as a bluesman and his importance in the development of the blues in Mississippi. It placed another historic marker at the site where the Peavine Railroad intersects with Highway 446 in Boyle, Mississippi, designating it as a second site related to Patton on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the original lyrics of Patton's "Peavine Blues" that describe the railway branch of Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad, which ran south from Dockery Plantation to Boyle. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape.
Tributes
"Blind Owl" Alan Wilson & Canned Heat covered Patton songs "Pony Blues", "Shake It and Break It" and "Yellow Bee".
Bob Dylan dedicated his song "High Water (For Charley Patton)", on his 2001 album "Love and Theft", to Patton.
The Reverend Peyton's Big Damn Band internationally touring American country blues recording/touring artists, fronted by Kentucky Colonel, The Reverend Peyton, produced a tribute recording to Charley Patton: Peyton on Patton, which was released July 19, 2011. The album entered the Billboard Blues Album chart at #7.
French singer-songwriter Francis Cabrel refers to Charley Patton in the song "Cent Ans de Plus" on his 1999 album Hors-Saison.
Indie rock band Gomez recorded a song on their 2006 release How We Operate, entitled "Charley Patton Songs".
There is a picture of Charley Patton in the recording studio used for The White Stripes' album Icky Thump. It can be seen in the background of the short demo video on their website
Jule Brown recorded an updated arrangement of Patton's "Green River Blues", on their 2006 release Smoke and Mirrors.
Robert Crumb narrated Patton's life in a comic book.
The 1980s NYC Punk/Blues band Hi Sheriffs of Blue (which included visual artists Mark Dagley, George Condo and Elliott Sharp) was named after the Patton song "High Sheriff Blues".
Discography
Gennett Records, Richmond, Indiana, 1929
"Pony Blues"
"Mississippi Boweavil Blues"
"Screamin' And Hollerin' The Blues"
"Down The Dirt Road Blues"
"Banty Rooster Blues"
"Pea Vine Blues"
"It Won't Be Long"
"Tom Rushen Blues"
"A Spoonful Blues"
"Shake It And Break It (But Don't Let It Fall Mama)"
"Prayer Of Death Part 1 & 2"
"Lord I'm Discouraged"
"I'm Goin' Home"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1929
"Going To Move To Alabama"
"Elder Greene Blues"
"Circle Round The Moon"
"Devil Sent The Rain Blues"
"Mean Black Cat Blues"
"Frankie And Albert"
"Some These Days I'll Be Gone"
"Green River Blues"
"Hammer Blues"
"Magnolia Blues"
"When Your Way Gets Dark"
"Heart Like Railroad Steel"
"Some Happy Day"
"You're Gonna Need Somebody When You Die"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 1"
"Jim Lee Blues Part 2"
"High Water Everywhere Part 1"
"High Water Everywhere Part 2"
"Jesus Is A Dying-Bed Maker"
"I Shall Not Be Moved"
"Rattlesnake Blues"
"Running Wild Blues"
"Joe Kirby"
"Mean Black Moan"
"Farrell Blues"
"Come Back Corrina"
"Tell Me Man Blues"
"Be True Be True Blues"
Paramount Records, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1930
"Dry Well Blues"
"Some Summer Day"
"Moon Going Down"
"Bird Nest Bound"
Vocalion Records, New York City, New York, 1934
"Jersey Bull Blues"
"High Sheriff Blues"
"Stone Pony Blues"
"34 Blues"
"Love My Stuff"
"Revenue Man Blues"
"Oh Death"
"Troubled 'Bout My Mother"
"Poor Me"
"Hang It On The Wall"
"Yellow Bee"
"Mind Reader Blues"
High Water Everywhere Part 1
Charley Patton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Backwater done rose at Sumner, drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I′ll tell the world the water
Done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country, Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country, man, is overflowed
(You know I can't stay here, I′ll go where it's high, boy)
Now, look-a here now at Leland river was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me, river was raisin′ high
(Boy, it′s risin' over there, yeah)
I′m gonna move over to Greenville 'fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy,
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland,
Lord, it done rose everywhere
(Boy, you can′t never stay here)
I would go down to Rosedale
But, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama, done took Charley′s town
Well, they tell me the water, done took Charley's town
(Boy, I'm goin′ to Vicksburg)
Well, I′m goin' to Vicksburg, for that high of mine
I am goin′ up that water, where lands don't never flow
Well, I′m goin' over the hill where, water, oh don′t ever flow
(Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall)
But, that whole county was leavin',
Over that Tallahatchie shore Boy,
(Went to Tallahatchie and got it over there)
Lord, the water done rushed all over,
Down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised, over the Jackson road
(Boy, it starched my clothes)
I'm goin′ back to the hilly country, won′t be worried no more
The song "High Water Everywhere Part 1" by Charley Patton describes the devastating effects of a flood that occurred in the Mississippi Delta in 1927. The lyrics depict the rising floodwater that drove Patton out of his hometown of Sumner and into neighboring towns such as Leland and Greenville, where the levees had broken and the water had risen everywhere. Patton expresses his desperation to leave the flooded areas and head to higher ground in the hilly country, where he would be safe from the flood. The song also acknowledges the widespread destruction caused by the flood, which affected the entire region and displaced countless people from their homes.
Patton's lyrics offer a poignant commentary on a natural disaster that had catastrophic consequences for many people. Beyond the immediate physical destruction caused by the flood, it also upended people's lives, forced them to flee their homes, and challenged their resilience in the face of adversity. The song thus speaks to themes of survival, perseverance, and the human cost of environmental disasters.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now, drove me down the line
The water has risen in Sumner and forced me to leave.
Lord, I'll tell the world the water
Done crept through this town
The water has flooded this town.
Lord, the whole round country, Lord, river has overflowed
(You know I can't stay here, I’ll go where it's high, boy)
I would go to the hilly country, but they got me barred
The river has overflowed throughout the country and I need to leave. I would go to higher ground, but I am not allowed.
Now look-a here now at Leland river was risin' high
(Boy, it’s risin' over there, yeah)
I'm gonna move over to Greenville 'fore I leave, goodbye
The river is rising in Leland and I need to move to Greenville before I go. Goodbye.
Look-a here the water now, Lordy,
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
(Boy, you can’t never stay here)
I would go down to Rosedale
But, they tell me there’s water there
The levee has broken and the water has risen everywhere. I cannot stay here. I would go to Rosedale, but I’ve been told there is water there too.
Now, the water now, mama, done took Charley’s town
(Boy, I'm going to Vicksburg)
Well, I’m going to Vicksburg for that high of mine
The water has taken over my town. I need to go to Vicksburg to find higher ground.
I am going up that water, where lands don’t never flow
(Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall)
But, that whole county was leaving,
Over that Tallahatchie shore Boy,
(Went to Tallahatchie and got it over there)
I am going where the water doesn’t flow. I went to Sharkey County, but everything was flooded in Stovall. The whole county was evacuating and I made it to Tallahatchie.
Lord, the water done rushed all over,
Down old Jackson road
(Boy, it starched my clothes)
I'm going back to the hilly country, won’t be worried no more
The water has rushed over the old Jackson road and ruined my clothes. I am going back to the hilly country where I won't be worried anymore.
Writer(s): Charlie Patton
Contributed by Hunter H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ijursic
Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now,
drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner,
drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water,
done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country,
Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country,
man, is overflowed
You know I can't stay here,
I'll go where it's high, boy
I would goto the hilly country,
but, they got me barred
Now, look-a here now at Leland
river was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me,
river was raisin' high
Boy, it's risin' over there, yeah
I'm gonna move to Greenville
fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy,
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland,
Lord, it done rose everywhere
Boy, you can't never stay here
I would go down to Rosedale
but, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama,
done took Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water,
done took Charley's town
Boy, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
Well, I'm goin' to Vicksburg,
for that high of mine
I am goin' up that water,
where lands don't never flow
Well, I'm goin' over the hill where,
water, oh don't ever flow
Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall
But, that whole county was leavin',
over that Tallahatchie shore Boy,
went to Tallahatchie and got it over there
Lord, the water done rushed all over,
down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised,
over the Jackson road
Boy, it starched my clothes
I'm goin' back to the hilly country,
won't be worried no more
@jean-micheldehalu6572
Well, backwater done rose all around
Sumner now, drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner,
Drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water,
Done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country,
Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country,
Man, is overflowed
You know I can't stay here,
I'll go where it's high, boy
I would goto the hilly country,
But, they got me barred
Now, look-a here now at
Leland
River was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me,
River was raisin' high
Boy, it's risin' over there, yeah
I'm gonna move to
Greenville
Fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy,
Levee
Broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland,
Lord, it done rose everywhere
Boy, you can't never stay here
I would go down to
Rosedale
But, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama,
Done took Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water,
Done took Charley's town
Boy, I'm goin' to
Vicksburg
Well, I'm goin' to Vicksburg,
For that high of mine
I am goin' up that water,
Where lands don't never flow
Well, I'm goin' over the hill where,
Water, oh don't ever flow
Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall
But, that whole county was leavin',
Over that
Tallahatchie
Shore
Boy, went to Tallahatchie and got it over there
Lord, the water done rushed all over,
Down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised,
Over the Jackson road
Boy, it starched my clothes
I'm goin' back to the hilly country,
Won't be worried no more
Go to top of page
Backwater at
Blytheville
Backed up all around
Backwater at Blytheville, done took Joiner town
It was fifty families and children come to sink and drown
The water was risin' up at my friend's door
The water was risin' up at my friend's door
The man said to his women folk, "Lord, we'd better go"
The water was risin', got up in my bed
Lord, the water was rollin', got up to my bed
I thought I would take a trip, Lord, out on the big ice sled
Oh, I can hear, Lord, Lord, water upon my door,
You know what I mean, look-a here
I hear the ice, Lord, Lord, was sinkin' down,
I couldn't get no boats there, Marion City gone down
So high the water was risin' our men sinkin' down
Man, the water was risin' at places all around,
Boy, they's all around
It was fifty men and children come to sink and drown
Oh, Lordy, women and grown men drown
Oh, women and children sinkin' down
Lord, have mercy
I couldn't see nobody's home and wasn't no one to be found
@nopenopenope7589
Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now
Drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner
Drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water
Done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country
Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country
Man, is overflowed
You know I can't stay here
I'll go where it's high, boy
I would goto the hilly country
But, they got me barred
Now, look-a here now at Leland
River was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me
River was raisin' high
Boy, it's risin' over there, yeah
I'm gonna move to Greenville
Fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland
Lord, it done rose everywhere
Boy, you can't never stay here
I would go down to Rosedale
But, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama
Done took Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water
Done took Charley's town
Boy, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
Well, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
For that high of mine
I am goin' up that water
Where lands don't never flow
Well, I'm goin' over the hill where
Water, oh don't ever flow
Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall
But, that whole county was leavin'
Over that Tallahatchie shore
Boy, went to Tallahatchie and got it over there
Lord, the water done rushed all over
Down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised
Over the Jackson road
Boy, it starched my clothes
I'm goin' back to the hilly country
Won't be worried no more
@totnamurvatnoye9993
corrected lyrics:
1.
The back-water done rose all around Sumner, Lord, drove me down the line
Back-water done rolled around Sumner, drove poor Charley down the line
Well i tell the world the water, done struck through this town
2.
Lord, the whole round country, Lord, crick water is overflowed
Lord, the whole round country, Man, is overflowed
(Spoken: You know i can't stay here. i'm bound to go where it's high, boy.)
I would go to the hilly country, but they got me barred
3.
Now looky here now Leland, Lord, river was rising high
Looky here, boys around Leland tell me, river is ragin' high
(Spoken: Boy, it's rising over there. Yeah.)
I'm going to move over to Greenville, 'fore i say 'goodbye'
4.
Looky here, the water dug out, Lordy, something broke, rolled most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland, Lord, it done rose everywhere
(Spoken: Boy, you can't never stay here.)
I would go down to Rosedale, but they tell me there's water there
5.
Now the water now, Mama, done struck Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water sure struck Charley's town
(Spoken: Boy, I'm going to Vicksburg.)
Well, I'm going to Vicksburg, 'fore i have mine
6.
I am going up that water where land don't never flow
Well, I'm going over the hill where water, oh, it don't never flow
(Spoken: Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall.)
But that county was leavin' over that Tallahatchie shore
(Spoken: Boy, went to Tallahatchie and got it over there.)
7.
Lord, the water done rushed all, over that old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised up, over the Jackson road
(Spoken: Boy, it got in my clothes.)
I'm going back to the hilly country, won't be worried no more
- from "Charley Patton", Written by John Fahey, page 91 and 92
@johnharrington2400
Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now
Drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner
Drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water
Done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country
Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country
Man, is overflowed
You know I can't stay here
I'll go where it's high, boy
I would goto the hilly country
But, they got me barred
Now, look-a here now at Leland
River was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me
River was raisin' high
Boy, it's risin' over there, yeah
I'm gonna move to Greenville
Fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland
Lord, it done rose everywhere
Boy, you can't never stay here
I would go down to Rosedale
But, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama
Done took Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water
Done took Charley's town
Boy, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
Well, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
For that high of mine
I am goin' up that water
Where lands don't never flow
Well, I'm goin' over the hill where
Water, oh don't ever flow
Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall
But, that whole county was leavin'
Over that Tallahatchie shore
Boy, went to Tallahatchie and got it over there
Lord, the water done rushed all over
Down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised
Over the Jackson road
Boy, it starched my clothes
I'm goin' back to the hilly country
Won't be worried no more
@mancebo7
That voiced is soaked and drenched in the Blues. Magnificent!
@robertconnelyfarr
I grew up in Bolton Mississippi & to the north of there - area just southeast of Bentonia in the Delta. To hear Patton sing of all the little communities and then talk about going back home on the Jackson Road - whoa. Mind blowing. It’s literally where I grew up.
@Bluesbee8
It's been raining like crazy here & brought this to mind.. Charlie Patton (my all time favorite) sings with incredible emotional fervor of the raging flood of 1927 which ravaged the Delta..He tells a harrowing and detailed tale. His guitar seems to mimic the churning waters. This leaves no doubt as to why he is considered perhaps the greatest of all blues folk.
@alext2566
This sounds so different from the "3 King's" of blues style. Frankly I prefer this kind. Charley Patton, Leadbelly, Son House, Skip James, Blind Willie Johnson, John Hurt. There just something beautiful yet sinister about the music these guys played. You get a real sense of dread and desperation. Wrestling with demons, doing whatever it takes to survive.
A sweat soaked night terror come to life in the muggy swamps of the Mississippi Delta. These guys LIVED the blues.
@jonathanwhitfield2864
Very well put.
@markoutram7589
THAT voice ... Ooooffffff ! Thanks for the post.
@ijursic
Well, backwater done rose all around Sumner now,
drove me down the line
Backwater done rose at Sumner,
drove poor Charley down the line
Lord, I'll tell the world the water,
done crept through this town
Lord, the whole round country,
Lord, river has overflowed
Lord, the whole round country,
man, is overflowed
You know I can't stay here,
I'll go where it's high, boy
I would goto the hilly country,
but, they got me barred
Now, look-a here now at Leland
river was risin' high
Look-a here boys around Leland tell me,
river was raisin' high
Boy, it's risin' over there, yeah
I'm gonna move to Greenville
fore I leave, goodbye
Look-a here the water now, Lordy,
Levee broke, rose most everywhere
The water at Greenville and Leland,
Lord, it done rose everywhere
Boy, you can't never stay here
I would go down to Rosedale
but, they tell me there's water there
Now, the water now, mama,
done took Charley's town
Well, they tell me the water,
done took Charley's town
Boy, I'm goin' to Vicksburg
Well, I'm goin' to Vicksburg,
for that high of mine
I am goin' up that water,
where lands don't never flow
Well, I'm goin' over the hill where,
water, oh don't ever flow
Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall
But, that whole county was leavin',
over that Tallahatchie shore Boy,
went to Tallahatchie and got it over there
Lord, the water done rushed all over,
down old Jackson road
Lord, the water done raised,
over the Jackson road
Boy, it starched my clothes
I'm goin' back to the hilly country,
won't be worried no more
@ericcrawford5780
Thank you so much.I feel so glad to have discovered this. Big thanks to the PBS special" Rumble" that introduced me to Charley Patton. Respect
@fawltyborstals
thank you for the lyrics! what a voice on Cholly Patton
@yes2everything
Thank you, for sharing the lyrics., much gratitude.