Back-Water Blues

by Bessie Smith

From the album: Bessie Smith Album

Track 12 of 12 on Bessie Smith Album (1937).

Duration: 3:19

Bessie Smith Album cover art

Lyrics for Back-Water Blues

When it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night When it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night Then trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door I woke up this mornin', can't even get out of my door There's enough trouble to make a poor girl wonder where she wanna go Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond Then they rowed a little boat about five miles 'cross the pond I packed all my clothes, throwed 'em in and they rowed me along When it thunders and lightnin', and the wind begins to blow When it thunders and lightnin', and the wind begins to blow There's thousands of people, ain't got no place to go And I went and stood up on some high old lonesome hill And I went and stood up on some high old lonesome hill Then looked down on the house where I used to live Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more Mmm, I can't move no more Mmm, I can't move no more There ain't no place for a poor old girl to go

Listen On

More from Bessie Smith Album

  1. St Louis Blues
  2. Reckless Blues
  3. Weeping Williow Blues
  4. Careless Love Blues
  5. There'll Be A Hot Time In The Old Town Tonight
  6. Alexander's Ragtime Band
  7. Muddy Water (A Mississippi Moan)
  8. Money Blues
  9. Yellow Dog Blues
  10. Trombone Cholly
  11. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
  12. Back-Water Blues