Mary, grab the baby, the river's rising   Muddy water taking back the land   The old-frame house, she can't take-a one more beating   Ain't no use to stay and make a stand         Well the morning light shows water in the valley   Daddy's grave just went below the line   Things to say, you just can't take em with ya   This flood will swallow all you've left behind         Won't be back to start all over   Cause what I felt before is gone         Mary, take the child, the river's rising   Muddy water taking back my home   The road is gone, there's just one way to leave here   Turn my back on what I've left below   Shifting land, broken farms around me   Muddy water's changing all I know         It's hard to say just what I'm losing   Ain't never felt so all alone         Mary, take the child, the river's rising   Muddy water taking back my home         Won't be back to start all over   Cause what I felt before is gone         Mary, take the child, the river's rising   Muddy water's changing all I know   Muddy water's changing all I know   Lord, this muddy water is taking back my home