Big Bill Broonzy

Mississippi River Blues 2:39 Trk 4
(Bill Broonzy)
Bill Broonzy - vocal & guitar, unk. piano
Recorded: Chicago, March 23, 1934
Original issue Bluebird 5535/-80395-1.
Album: Vol. 1 'Walk Right In'
Bluebird Records 'When The Sun Goes Down'


Mississ-ippi river
Is so long, deep and wide
I can see my good girl
Standin' on that other side

I cried an I called
I could not make my baby hear
Lord, I'm 'on get me a boat, woman
Paddle on away from here
(guitar)

Ain't it hard to love someone
When they are so far from you
Lord, I'm on' get me a boat and
Paddle this old river blue

I went down to the landing
To see if any boats were there
And the fareman told me
Could not find the boats nowhere
(guitar)

The big boat ease up the river
Are turnin' 'round an 'round
Lord, I'm 'on get me a good girl
Or jump overboard an drown.

~

If you?ve got any money,
Boy walk right in
Don?t be scared cuz it ain?t no sin
Just roll them bones
Yes roll them bones
Now just roll them bones
Don?t you love greed?

Ah if you want to do something
A justified livlihood
Put your money on the wood boy
That makes bettin? good
Just roll them bones
Yes roll them bones
Now just roll them bones
Don?t you love greed?

This little game is called
?Chuck-a-luck?

The more you put down boy
The less you pick up
Just roll them bones
Yes roll them bones
Now you just roll them bones
Don?t you love greed?

Now you just keep on a-bettin?
That the dice don?t pass
This one is gonna catch ya boy
Yes yes yes
Just roll them bones
Yes roll them bones
Now just roll them bones
Don?t you love greed?

Early early one morning, water was comin' in my door
Early one morning, water was comin' in my door
It was the old high(?) river, tellin' us to get ready and go

It was dark and it was rainin', you could hear that howlin' wind
It was dark and it was rainin', baby you could hear that howlin' wind
If I get away this time, I will never come here again

Hey my baby was cryin', I didn't have a thing to eat
Hey hey hey, I didn't have a thing to eat
Hey the water had come in, wash everything I had down the street

I was hollerin' for mercy, and it weren't no boats around
Hey I was hollerin' for mercy, and it weren't no boats around
Hey that looks like people, I've gotta stay right here and drown

Hey my house started shakin', started floatin' on down the stream
Hey my house started shakin', went on floatin' on down the stream
It was dark as midnight, people began to holler and scream