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