[Verse 1]
When I was just a little girl, my Mama said to me
"Beware of 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 an evil spell just looking at his beautiful face

[Chorus]
You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside"

[Verse 2]
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 upon you, girl, and he'll whisper something sweet
Then take you where the waters rise so high and run so deep

[Chorus]
"You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Better build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee, girl, when the waters run high"

[Verse 3]
Now when I was just a little girl, my mama said to me
"Beware of the devil, my child, but if by chance you should meet
Beware of 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"
[Chorus]
"You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee deep inside
Better build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee, girl, when the waters run high"