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