Back Water Blues. 1927

Big Bill Broonzy/sung by Bessie Smith

It rained five days Lord and the clouds turned as dark as night

It rained five days and the clouds turned as dark as night

Lord that was really enough trouble to make a poor man wonder where in the world to go

I got up one morning, poor me I couldn't get even get out of my door

Lord that was really enough trouble to make a poor man wonder where in the world to go

Now they rowed a little boat just about five miles across the farm

Yeah they rowed a little boat down about five miles across the farm

Lord I packed up all of my clothes and throwed them in and I declare they rowed poor old Bill along

Then I went and I stood up on a high, high old lonesome hill

Yes I went and I stood up on a high, high old lonesome hill

Lord and all I could do was look down on the house baby where I used to live

Now it thundered and it lightnin'd, Lord and the wind, wind began to blow

Lord there was thousands and thousands of poor people at that time didn't have no place to go

REEFER HEAD WOMAN (Bill Gillum) 1938

I can't see why my baby sleeps so sound

Well I can't see why my baby sleeps so sound

She musta have smoked that reefer and it's bound to carry her down

When I left her this mornin', I left her sleepin' sound

The only way she could catch me is to run like a full bloodhound

She said she was gonna leave me, goin' to some no-good town

She was a rough cuttin' woman, she didn't like to break 'em down

If you got a good woman mens, please don't take 'r 'round

She will get full of reefer, and raise sand all over this town