Well, I said goodbye to Chicago, I intend to save some souls
But, the river changed all that, I couldn't even save my own
I don't trouble the water but the water troubles me.

I don't ever wanna see the Mississippi again

The river towns ain't nothing more 
But killers, sinners, thieves and whores
And I aim to see some holy water washing off their shores
Down to the Delta, that seething, muddy hell
Where the world goes underwater and the rising river swells

I don't ever wanna see the Mississippi again
Never wanna see the muddy water again
Always thought the river would be on my side
Never wanna see the wicked river again

Well, I went down to the river banks looking for some kind of sign
It was all that I could do not to swim to the other side
It's coursing through my veins, it's calling me to try
This is all I've got to live for, this is how I'm gonna die

Never gonna see the Mississippi again
Never gonna see the muddy water again
Always thought the river would be on my side
Never gonna see the wicked river again

As I lay down at the base of the river the water washed over my face
Into my lungs, washing away all of my pain and disgrace

The waste of this city is crawling all over
My tongue's spitting out it's fowl taste
Let the currents carry me down through the delta
And spirit me away from this place

I don't ever wanna see the Mississippi again