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