Backwater at Blytheville, backed up all around
It was fifty families and children come to sink and 
drown
 
The water was rising up at my friend's door
The man said to his women folk Lord we'd better go
 
The water was risin' got up in my bed
I thought I would take a trip, Lord, out on the big ice 
sled

 
Oh, I can hear, Lord, Lord, water upon my door
I couldn't get no boats there, Marion City gone down
 
So high water was risin' our men sinkin down
It was fifty men and children come to sink and drown
 
Oh, Lordy, women and grown men drown
I couldn't see nobody home and was no one to be found