High Water Everywhere Part 2
Charley Patton Lyrics


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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

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics are from Part 2 of Charley Patton's song "High Water Everywhere," which was released in 1930. The song is about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, which was among the largest and most destructive floods in American history. Patton's lyrics describe the devastating impact that this flood had on communities and families throughout the Mississippi Delta region.


In the lyrics, Patton describes how the rising floodwaters have devastated the town of Blytheville and submerged Joiner, causing the loss of homes and lives. He also recounts his own experience of the flood, including hearing the water rising at his friend's door and getting up onto his bed to avoid being swept away. The lyrics are filled with despair and a sense of helplessness as Patton and others witness the destruction of their homes and communities.


Line by Line Meaning

Backwater at Blytheville, backed up all around
The water is backed up all around Blytheville


Backwater at Blytheville, done took Joiner town
The water has taken over Joiner town due to backwater from Blytheville


It was fifty families and children come to sink and drown
Fifty families and children were in danger of sinking and drowning


The water was risin' up at my friend's door
The water was rising and almost at my friend's doorstep


The man said to his women folk, "Lord, we'd better go"
The man said to his women folk that they should leave the place as the condition was getting dangerous


Lord, the water was rollin', got up to my bed
The water has risen up to my bed and was rolling


I thought I would take a trip, Lord, out on the big ice sled
The singer thought of taking a trip on a big ice sled but the rising water prevented him from doing so


Oh, I can hear, Lord, Lord, water upon my door
The artist can hear the water hitting his door loudly


I hear the ice, Lord, Lord, was sinkin' down
The ice is sinking down due to the high water level


I couldn't get no boats there, Marion City gone down
The artist was unable to get any boats as Marion City had already gone down


So high the water was risin' our men sinkin' down
The water level was so high that the men were sinking and drowning


Man, the water was risin' at places all around
The water was rising all around many places


Boy, they's all around
There were people and places all around getting affected by the high water level


Oh, Lordy, women and grown men drown
Women and men were drowning due to the high water level


Oh, women and children sinkin' down
Women and children were sinking down in the water


Lord, have mercy
A plea to the Lord to show mercy in this dire situation


I couldn't see nobody's home and wasn't no one to be found
The artist was unable to see anyone's home and couldn't find anyone around due to the high water level




Writer(s): Charlie Patton

Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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