Thursday Lyric: Muddy Water

We recently got a new copy of an old Seldom Scene album (Live at the Cellar Door, pretty much the essential Seldom Scene disk) which has a fantastic version of this fundamentally haunting and beautiful song. Lyrics courtesy of Mudcat Cafe.

Muddy Water
by Phil Rosenthall

Mary, take the baby, river's risin
That muddy water's takin back the land
This old frame house won't take one more beating
Ain't no time to stay and make a stand

Mornin light shows water in the valley
My daddy's grave just went below the line
Things to save, you just can't take em with you
Mud'll swallow all you leave behind

I won't be back to start all over
What I felt before is gone
Mary take the baby, river's rising
Muddy water's takin back our home

Roads are gone, there's just one way to leave here
Turn my back on what I left below
Shiftin lands and broken farms around me
Muddy water's changin all I know

Hard to say just what I'm losin
I ain't never felt so all alone
Mary, take the baby, river's risin
That muddy water's takin back our home