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Backwater Blues

by Uncle Dave Macon

on Ballads, Blues, and a Spiritual (1959), Go Long Mule (1994)

i>Spoken: Well good people, you know all water will put out fire, but when water backs up it makes you put out. Right up the mountain just like the old wreck of 97 going down the grade 90 miles an hour. Now we're going to give you a little imitation of how that ol' train was a'going

Instrumental excerpt of Wreck of the Old 97

Spoken: Hot dog, I'm old but I'm round, here

Backwater's up and the people are a running
I'm going to the mountain and I'm going hunting
Fare you well, oh my little darling
Lord, lord, ain't I gone

Oh my love, lonesome road
Oh my love, lonesome wood

I love you and you can't help it
You love me but you won't confess it
No you don't, oh my little darling
Lord, lord, ain't I gone

Oh my love, lonesome road
Oh my love, lonesome wood

Two little children lying in the bed
The water was rising over their head
The mother's uptown, they'se never found
Lord, lord, wasn't that sad
Oh how bad, oh how sad

I heard a man talkin' to a fella
The water was rising in his cellar
Rising more, and a'coming through the floor
Lord, lord, open the door

Oh my love, lonesome road
Oh my love, lonesome wood

Nashville is a favorite town
The backwater's got us running around
Lord have mercy, ain't I gone
Lord, lord, fare you well

Oh my love, lonesome road
Oh my love, lonesome wood