[Intro — insects, distant frogs, low humming] Mmmmmm… Don’t go down where the black water bends. Don’t call out— it might answer again. [Verse 1] Mama said, “Baby, stay out that mire. There’s things in the reeds that don’t fear no fire.” But the moon hung low, and the night said come, so I followed that sound of a slow beating drum. [Pre-Chorus — gospel voices begin answering] I said, Who’s out there? (Who’s out there?) Something laughed. (Come on down.) I said, Lord have mercy— [Choir] Mercy ain’t around. [DROP — vocal chop] BLACK— WA— TER— Come on down. [filthy swamp-bass instrumental] [Verse 2 — lower, playful vocal] Barefoot mud, Spanish moss in my hair, something breathing behind me— I don’t care. Got a jar full of lightning, got a mouth full of sin, if the swamp wants trouble— [Choir] Let the poor thing in. [Build — stomps + claps] One for the water, two for the flame, three for the thing that keeps calling my name. Four little footsteps— but I only made three… [everything cuts] …well. That ain’t me. [SECOND DROP — huge] Choir: RUN, CHILD, RUN! Lead, laughing: Nah. [bass hits] I wanna see what it wants. [Bridge — half-time gospel breakdown] Oh black water, wash over me. Keep my secrets where nobody sees. Oh black water, deep and divine— If there’s something down there… [whisper] …it better get in line. [FINAL DROP — gospel choir + bass chaos] Come on down! (Come on down!) Come on down! (Come on down!) BLACKWATER— [massive bass hit] GOSPEL. [Outro — swamp ambience returns] Mama said don’t go down there. … Mama worries too much.
