[Intro: Dobro slide over low D drone, hummed moan] (Mmm-hmm... mmm...) [Verse 1] Rain been fallin' on the levee, and the river's risin' high, Rain keeps fallin' on the levee, Lord, the river's risin' high, I got one mule and a lantern, and a prayer I can't untie. [Verse 2] Oh, my cabin's on the low ground where the cotton used to grow, Yes, my cabin's on the low ground, where that cotton used to grow, Now the catfish swim the parlor and the bedsprings sing below. [Chorus: Trio harmony, high and lonesome] High water, high water, carry me across, High water, high water, carry me across, I been weighin' what I'm savin' against everything I lost. [Instrumental Break: Dobro solo] [Instrumental Break: Fiddle solo, long sliding notes] [Bridge: Stop-time, half-moaned] Hear the whistle on the trestle, she ain't stoppin' here no more, Saw my neighbor on his rooftop, saw his Bible float out the door, I said, "Brother, where you goin'?" He said, "Wherever the water goes, Man can't choose his road to Jordan when the Lord done let it flow." [Verse 3] When that water goes back down, I'm gonna plant on higher ground, When that water goes back down, Lord, I'll plant on higher ground, Gonna build my house on a hillside where the river can't be found. [Final Chorus: Trio harmony] High water, high water, carry me across, High water, high water, carry me across, I been weighin' what I'm savin' against everything I lost. [Outro: Slow, dobro slides to the tonic] Carry me across... Lord, carry me across... [End]
0/500