Bonfire on the bank, hard bend to the right
On the lower Mississippi, full moon tonight
Where the Spanish moss, hangs from the trees
Down in Louisiana on Christmas Eve

That muddy water, (that muddy water)
Never quite comes clear (never quite comes clear)
When I try to give a reason (when I try to give a reason)
Why I wanta be here, (why I wanta be here)

Ain't ya got no family (ain't ya got no family)
No place to be (no place to be)
Out on the river (out on the river)
On Christmas Eve (on Christmas Eve)

See your reflections on this clear black night
Watchin the shoreline come into sight
I wanta hear steam, I just wanta feel wind
See the Pittman arm come around again

That muddy water, that muddy water
Never quite comes clear, never quite comes clear
When I try to give a reason, when I try to give a reason
Why I wanta be here, why I wanta be here

Ain't ya got no family, ain't ya got no family
No place to be, no place to be
Out on the river, out on the river
On Christmas Eve, on Christmas Eve
That muddy water, that muddy water
Never quite comes clear, never quite comes clear
When I try to give a reason, when I try to give a reason
Why I wanta be here, why I wanta be here

Ain't ya got no family, ain't ya got no family
No place to be, no place to be
Out on the river, out on the river
On Christmas Eve, on Christmas Eve
Out on the river, out on the river
On Christmas Eve, on Christmas Eve