Robert Hicks: Mississippi Heavy Water Blues

Quite a little while ago, I mentioned "Katrina Blues" (2006) by Curtis Wheeler aka Rooster. Going back well before Katrina, a whole slew of blues songs came out of the great flood of 1927. For example, Robert Hicks (9/11/1902-10/21/1931) -- aka Barbecue Bob -- wrote and recorded "Mississippi Heavy Water Blues" in 1927, soon after that one.  My rough transcription follows.  [Note: "I hope she comes back / Some day kind and true / Can’t no one satisfy her / like her sweet Babalu" -- Babalu Aye is an Orisha (deity spirit), Father of Earth, placated with cool waters and syncretized with Saint Lazarus, who was raised from the dead.  Adds a nice signifying twist. However, after all is said and done he may be singing "like her sweet Papa do" -- I leave that to other listeners to decide].

"Mississippi Heavy Water Blues"

I was walking down the levee
With my head hanging low
Looking for my sweet Mama
Ah but she ain’t here no mo’
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Lord Lord Lord, I’m so blue
My house got washed away
And I am crying how long
For another pay day?
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

I’m sitting here looking
At all of this mud
And my gal got washed away
In that Mississippi flood
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

I hope she comes back
Some day kind and true
Can’t no one satisfy her
Like her sweet Babalu
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

I think I heard a moan
On that Arkansas side
Crying high and long before
Sweet Mama ‘rives
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

I’m in Mississippi with
Mud all in my shoes
My gal in Louisiana with
Those high water blues
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Lord send me a sweet Mama
Got plenty muddy water
Don’t need no water cold
All I need’s a sweet Mama
To send me Daddy love
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Nuttin’ but mud and water
So far as I can see
I need some sweet Mama
Come and shake that thing with me
That's why I'm crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Listen here you men
One more thing I’d like to say
Ain’t no women’s out here
Lord they all got washed away
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Lord Lord Lord
Mississippi’s shakin’
Louisiana sinkin’
The whole town’s a shrinkin’
Robert Hicks is singing
That’s why I’m crying
Mississippi heavy water blues

Today's Rune:  Warrior.