The Crossroads Drifter II

[Spoken Word Intro - Gravelly Voice] Three days south of Tennessee, that fiddle pulled me down To where the Mississippi runs through every Delta town [Slide Guitar and Fiddle Intro] [Verse 1] The river fog was risin' where the old bridge used to stand I felt that fiddle tuggin', pullin' hard against my hand Then the water started churnin', moonlight turned to grey And up from that dark river came a voice that made me stay [Pre-Chorus - Mysterious] She said "Boy, you can't cross over, not without a fee You'll play me for your passage, or you'll feed my hungry stream" [Chorus - Intense] It's a midnight duel with the river's daughter Her hair like Spanish moss, her dress like muddy water My fiddle's screamin' fire, her banjo's ringin' cold Winner takes the crossing, loser pays in soul [Banjo Solo] [Fiddle Solo] [Verse 2] Her fingers moved like lightning on them silver banjo strings Playin' songs of drownin' men and other awful things But this cursed fiddle knew her game and wouldn't let me lose It sang of resurrection and them old Delta blues [Pre-Chorus - Banjo Building Power] The river started boilin', the cypress trees did sway Two forces locked in battle till the break of day [Chorus] It's a midnight duel with the river's daughter Her hair like Spanish moss, her dress like muddy water My fiddle's screamin' fire, her banjo's ringin' cold Winner takes the crossing, loser pays in soul [Bridge - Spoken/Sung Mix] Hour after hour, we traded lick for lick Till her watery form began to fade and flick She smiled as the sun broke through the trees "You've earned your crossing, but you ain't seen the last of these" [Final Fiddle Solo - Triumphant but Ominous] [Outro] Now I'm floatin' 'cross the Delta with that fiddle in my grip Knowin' well this journey's just begun to crack the whip The river spirit warned me 'bout the darkness up ahead But this fiddle's got me movin' like I'm already dead [Harmonica and Fiddle Fade]