Song Cover Image

The Water Knows the Way

Bubba Patrick
Bubba Patrick
Spacious Appalachian North Georgia acoustic country-gospel blues in gentle 6/8 at 82 BPM, mature warm weathered solo MALE baritone, only ONE old Martin SIX-STRING acoustic guitar with delicate fingerpicking that grows to strong open strumming, ONE Seagull harmonica playing breathy answers and a short expressive solo, Storytelling close porch recording, entirely unplugged and intimate; begins tender, chorus rises with quiet strength, No other instruments or voices, Exact original Holler Sound chord cycle, unchanged and in order: Gadd9–D/F#–Fmaj7–C/E–Ebmaj7–G/D–A7–Cm6–G6, ‑drums, ‑percussion, ‑bass, ‑electric guitar, ‑banjo, ‑mandolin, ‑violin, ‑fiddle, ‑piano, ‑keyboard, ‑organ, ‑accordion, ‑bandoneon, ‑synthesizers, ‑strings, ‑horn section, ‑background vocals, ‑choir, ‑duet, ‑female vocals, ‑second guitar, ‑band
V6

[Spoken intro — fingerpicked six-string] I watched a creek running around a rock one day. Never heard that water argue. It just kept on going. [Verse 1] There's a creek beyond the ridgeline, Cutting silver through the clay. Meets a boulder in the middle, Doesn't fight or turn away. Finds an edge and keeps on moving, Leaves the mountain where it lays. I stood there with my troubles, Heard the water gently say— [Chorus — acoustic strum opens up] Flow when it's time to flow, Rise when it's time to rise. Gentle as a Sunday morning, Brave as thunder in the sky. I don't have to fight each stone, Or make the hard days pay. Keep my heart from turning bitter; The water knows the way. [Harmonica answer] [Verse 2] Someone spoke a hard word Tuesday, Nearly sent one back in kind. Then I let the silence answer, Gave my anger time to die. You can stand up for what's right Without a fist around your pride. There's a strength in knowing when To let the little things roll by. [Chorus] Flow when it's time to flow, Rise when it's time to rise. Gentle as a Sunday morning, Brave as thunder in the sky. I don't have to fight each stone, Or make the hard days pay. Keep my heart from turning bitter; The water knows the way. [Bridge — softer and honest] Being soft ain't being helpless, Being strong ain't being mean. I can give a little mercy And still hold to what I believe. When the road gets steep and narrow, When the sky turns winter gray, I don't have to stop the river Just to find another way. [Harmonica solo — eight bars; guitar only underneath] [Final chorus — warm lift] Flow when it's time to flow, Rise when it's time to rise. Gentle as a Sunday morning, Brave as thunder in the sky. I don't have to break what blocks me, I can bend and still be brave. I can lay down all that anger; The water knows the way. [Spoken outro — last guitar chord] Stay gentle, neighbor. Stay strong. And all is well.