Bob Dylan - Highwater - For Charlie Patton Lyrics






Highwater risin', rising night and day
All the gold and silver are being stolen away
Big Joe Turner looking east and west from the dark room of his mind
He made it to Kansas City, Twelfth Street and Vine
Nothin' standing there
Highwater everywhere

Highwater rising the shacks are sliding down
Folks lose their possessions, the folks are leaving town
Reformation shook it, broke it, then she hung it on the wall
Say you dance with whom they tell you to or you don't dance at all
It's tough out there
Highwater everywhere

I got a cravin' love for blazin' speed
I got a hopped up Mustang Ford
Jump into the wagon, love
Throw your panties overboard
I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind
I'm no pig without a wig, I hope you treat me kind
Things are breakin' up out there
Highwater everywhere

Highwater rising, six inches above my head
Coffin's dropping in the street like balloons made out of lead
Water poured into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm gonna do
Don't reach out for me, she said, can't you see I'm drowning too
It's rough out there
Highwater everywhere

Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew
You can't open up your mind, boys, to every conceivable point of view
They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway 5
Judge says to the high sheriff, I want him dead or alive
Either one, I don't care
Highwater everywhere

Well, the cuckoo is a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies
I'm preachin' the word of God, I'm puttin' out your eyes
I asked Fat Nancy for someth'n' to eat, she said take it off the shelf
As great as you are man, you'll never be greater than yourself
I told her I didn't really care
Highwater everywhere

I get up in the mornin', I believe I'll dust my broom
Keepin' away from the women, I'm givin' them lots of room
Thunder rollin' over Clarksdale, everythin' a lookin' blue
I just can't be happy, love, unless you're happy too
It's bad out there
Highwater everywhere





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Bob Dylan Highwater - For Charlie Patton Comments
  1. T.... S....

    Great companion piece to lonesome day blues. Two different songs but if you close your eyes both songs transport you to another time long past. Lyrics are brilliant.

  2. f.... ....

    For the people out there who say, yeah he's a great songwriter but he can't sing: who else could have done as much justice to this song? He sounds like he's lived 10 lifetimes.

  3. B.... G....

    High water everywhere.

  4. D.... C....

    Great song. I particularly like the live versions from the early 2000s period. Here is a link to an amazing analysis of the lyrics https://www.keesdegraaf.com/media/Misc/7431p16erms5pckej1n7q1vjqqf9hul1.pdf .I especially love the explanation about George Lewis.

  5. O.... t....

    I like this, with the banjos behind him, instead of his usual minimalist style. Good stuff.

  6. O.... G....

    High water sure did rise in North Carolina.

  7. J.... S....

    "though your plant is overboard "- u scandalous little runts ...

    J.... S....

    Throw your pantries overboard.

  8. k.... ....

    High water times indeed

  9. B.... F....

    Chancellor Robert Beekman Livingston you are AWESOME Son!! Thankso Much!! dig on this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDn16srOBA

  10. c.... ....

    10 people don't get it.

  11. J.... L....

    frightening as it should be, I feel this so well... and some of the versions with his band are just amazing.

  12. L.... M....

    The man's a genius.

  13. G.... W....

    Houston.

  14. L.... M....

    Fabulous song! What a talent. I've been listening to him since the 60s! ❤️❤️

  15. J.... F....

    Dont reach out to me she said. Cant u c im drowning too

  16. D.... S....

    Too powerful.....need to lie down and rest.

  17. S.... H....

    I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind...Oh, baby. Fuck it.

    S.... H....

    twice..

  18. A.... M....

    bucketts of bongs around every corner... seriously... loaded... im out there... HELL YEAH!!!!

  19. C.... M....

    Awesome general rock musician/artist with his band!...

    C.... M....

    Queen is also a rock singer with a...little moustache!...

  20. j.... s....

    my greatest influence who did not give me the flu

  21. c.... ....

    Long live Dylan..

  22. J.... F....

    The man.

  23. F.... ....

    What a voice. Bob Dylan's voice.

  24. b.... i....

    High water risin', risin' night and day
    All the gold and silver are being stolen away
    Big Joe Turner lookin' East and West
    From the dark room of his mind
    He made it to Kansas City
    Twelfth Street and Vine
    Nothing standing there
    High water everywhere

    High water risin', the shacks are slidin' down
    Folks lose their possessions and folks are leaving town
    Bertha Mason shook, it broke it
    Then she hung it on a wall
    Says, "You're dancin' with whom they tell you to
    Or you don't dance at all"
    It's tough out there
    High water everywhere

    I got a cravin' love for blazing speed got a hopped up Mustang Ford
    Jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties overboard
    I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind
    I'm no pig without a wig
    I hope you treat me kind
    Things are breakin' up out there
    High water everywhere

    High water risin', six inches 'bove my head
    Coffins droppin' in the street
    Like balloons made out of lead
    Water pourin' into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm going to do
    "Don't reach out for me," she said
    "Can't you see I'm drownin' too?"
    It's rough out there
    High water everywhere

    Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew
    "You can't open your mind, boys
    To every conceivable point of view"
    They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway Five
    Judge says to the High Sheriff
    "I want him dead or alive
    Either one, I don't care"
    High Water everywhere

    Well, the cuckoo is a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies
    I'm preachin' the word of God
    I'm puttin' out your eyes
    I asked Fat Nancy for something to eat, she said, "Take it off the shelf
    As great as you are a man,
    You'll never be greater than yourself"
    I told her I didn't really care
    High water everywhere

    I'm getting' up in the morning I believe I'll dust my broom
    Keeping away from the women
    I'm givin' 'em lots of room
    Thunder rolling over Clarksdale, everything is looking blue
    I just can't be happy, love
    Unless you're happy too
    It's bad out there
    High water everywhere



    Read more: Bob Dylan - High Water (For Charley Patton) Lyrics | MetroLyrics

    b.... i....

    Nobel Prize for Literature Oct. 2016, and this is another song proving he's worth it! More have followed, such as "Workingman's Blues #2", "Ain't Walkin'," "Tempest," and others.

  25. A.... ....

    SO VERY EXCELLENT!!

    A.... ....

    +ATMABRAHM true ecstasy

  26. M.... 9....

    "I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind, I'm no pig without a wig, I hope you treat me kind."

    M.... 9....

    +Mark 975 haha

    M.... 9....

    Who's words are those from? AND DONT SAY BOB DYLAN !! Here is a clue it is from a 1894 poam- YEs Bob Dylan is very well read

  27. C.... L....

    Loved this video! All the best!!

  28. F.... S....

    High water risin', risin' night and day
    水面上升 日夜無間
    All the gold and silver are being stolen away
    金銀財寶盡失竊
    Big Joe Turner lookin' East and West
    大橋唐納 東張西望
    From the dark room of his mind
    從他陰暗的心房
    He made it to Kansas City
    大橋趕到堪薩斯市
    Twelfth Street and Vine
    十二號街與蔓
    Nothing standing there
    那兒一片荒涼
    High water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    High water risin', the shacks are slidin' down
    水面上升 間陋小屋順坡下
    Folks lose their possessions and folks are leaving town
    老鄉喪失一切 老鄉遠赴他鄉
    Bertha Mason shook, it broke it
    渤薩 瑪殤 又砸又摔
    Then she hung it on a wall
    最後把它釘上牆
    Says, "You're dancin' with whom they tell you to
    上面寫到 叫你跟誰跳舞就跳 要就不准跳
    Or you don't dance at all"
    It's tough out there
    那兒日子艱難
    High water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    I got a cravin' love for blazing speed got a hopped up Mustang Ford
    我生性求快求HIGH 跳上一台福特野馬
    Jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties overboard
    快上車 我的愛 甩掉底褲到窗外
    I can write you poems, make a strong man lose his mind
    我能為你寫詩 讓堅強的男人也癡狂
    I'm no pig without a wig
    我不是沒有假髮的豬
    I hope you treat me kind
    我希望你能對我溫柔以待
    Things are breakin' up out there
    那兒 分崩離析
    High water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    High water risin', six inches 'bove my head
    水面上升 過頭又六吋
    Coffins droppin' in the street
    棺材從天而降 到街上
    Like balloons made out of lead
    好像生鉛做的氣球
    Water pourin' into Vicksburg, don't know what I'm going to do
    為克斯堡 大雨滂薄 我身無所措
    "Don't reach out for me," she said
    她說 別靠過來
    "Can't you see I'm drownin' too?"
    你沒看到 我也溺水嗎
    It's rough out there
    那兒 日子真艱難
    High water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    Well, George Lewis told the Englishman, the Italian and the Jew
    是 喬治麗文斯 告訴 英國佬 義大利人 與猶太人
    "You can't open your mind, boys
    孩子 可別胡亂相信
    To every conceivable point of view"
    任何可信的觀點
    They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway Five
    他們在五號高速公路擒獲查爾斯 達爾文
    Judge says to the High Sheriff
    法官向警長說
    "I want him dead or alive
    我要他 死活不論
    Either one, I don't care"
    我才不甩
    High Water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    Well, the cuckoo is a pretty bird, she warbles as she flies
    嗯 杜鵑鳥是漂亮 飛起來東倒西歪
    I'm preachin' the word of God
    我傳上帝的話
    I'm puttin' out your eyes
    我要解放你的雙眼
    I asked Fat Nancy for something to eat, she said, "Take it off the shelf
    我向胖南希要吃的 他說 架上拿
    As great as you are a man,
    好生也是男兒身
    You'll never be greater than yourself"
    難是好過自己命
    I told her I didn't really care
    我告訴他 我不在乎
    High water everywhere
    一片汪洋
    I'm getting' up in the morning I believe I'll dust my broom
    早起後我想信 我會打掃一番
    Keeping away from the women
    離女人遠一點 
    I'm givin' 'em lots of room
    我要給他們很多空間
    Thunder rolling over Clarksdale, everything is looking blue
    克拉斯戴爾 滾滾震雷 蒼藍一片
    I just can't be happy, love
    我快樂不起來 我的愛
    Unless you're happy too
    除非你也快樂
    It's bad out there
    那兒很難
    High water everywhere
    到處都是水

  29. G.... S....

    They got Charlie Darwin trapped out there on Highway 5.

  30. A.... Z....

    Work of pure genius!
    You can't open up your mind, boys, to every conceivable point of view
    They got Charles Darwin trapped out there on Highway 5
    Judge says to the high sheriff, I want him dead or alive
    Either one, I don't care
    Highwater everywhere

    A.... Z....

    Uważam. ze masz racje,

    A.... Z....

    I got a craving love for blazing speed; got a hopped-up mustang ford; jump into the wagon, love, throw your panties overboard.

    A.... Z....

    +Andrzej Zydroń Indeed.

  31. E.... G....

    This song makes my ears laugh

  32. J.... B....

    Love this tune especially when its blasting!!!

  33. B.... O....

    Check out "High Water The Black Pits"

  34. F.... L....

    ya, ha. the god rocks.

  35. V.... S....

    didn'tbelieve 'twas such a great song; seems like fate is comin' down to catch you. Great great great song

  36. G.... I....

    I just can't be happy, if you are not drinking too.

  37. b.... ....

    The live version on Tell Tale Signs is incredible, shame it's not on youtube.

  38. L.... K....

    anyone know who's playing banjo on here?  I've looked all around and can't find, even on Dylan's official site. 

    L.... K....

    @Patrick Meehan
    Thanks!  I'm learning banjo and need to know who to aspire to :)  Tony Trischka is top of my list and who is teaching me.  (Thru my blu-ray player)

    L.... K....

    +Patrick Meehan That sounds right and true. Pretty amazing - Larry Campbell is a multi-instrumentalist.

    L.... K....

    No, that's Donnie Herron, also his pedal steel player.

    L.... K....

    Herron wasn't with Dylan at that time, it's Larry.

    L.... K....

    Allmusic has the banjoist as Larry Campbell

  39. z.... ....

    very american album, like The Basement Tapes and Times Are A-Changing. I mean these are his 3 less universal albums, cuz of that, which is not bad. Although I onced heard if you want to get something universal, focus on the local things. just rambling. btw I'm from spain

    z.... ....

    Very American ? No wonder all the words are from American poet writers from the 1800's Bob knows how to steal words without us knowing about it- Well i do

    z.... ....

    @me & you That ain't stealing, that's paying homage to and weaving the tale.

  40. T.... H....

    This album came out on 9/11.

    This song is a prophecy.

    T.... H....

    Yeah, the entire album has a dark sound. Good stuff.

    T.... H....

    Sky's full of fire, pain pourin' down. -Mississippi

  41. G.... ....

    I wouldn't be all that surprised if he makes at least one more album. Tempest was fucking great and proves that he has it more in his 70s than most 20-somethings do these days. Dude is a fucking Killer.

  42. M.... A....

    ^^^^ I concur salsburysteakjr :P

  43. s.... ....

    Oh very much certainly, they're classics as well, I ought to of proclaimed it as my personal particular list of his best records, not necessarily as what I think "THE LIST" of his best records is.

  44. b.... ....

    Bringing It All Back Home? Highway 61? I think Tempest will start to creep into the upper reaches of his discography given time aswell. Fingers crossed he still has a few masterpieces in him yet.

  45. s.... ....

    Blonde on Blonde, Blood on the Tracks, Desire and Time Out of Mind. But hell, it's hard to decide, my list leaves out Freewheelin Bob Dylan, Another Side of, New Morning, Oh Mercy, and the just released Tempest, all monumentally beautiful, re-listenable records worth adoring.

  46. b.... ....

    2 masterpieces Love & Theft, this is one.

  47. P.... E....

    Probably to avoid being taken down from YT.

  48. M.... A....

    Bob=my salve on my fevered mind

  49. s.... ....

    From Love and Theft, one of the top five greatest records he's ever released, I says.

  50. R.... F....

    dont say it was n,t so

  51. C.... ....

    ya, you and everyone else on youtube..

  52. D.... ....

    This is one of the great artistic works of our time. I've been thinking about it particularly as the monster storm attacks the east coast. Thanks for creating this video.

  53. A.... K....

    Bob Dylan has written hundreds and hundreds of songs. This is one of the five best.

  54. D.... B....

    "Don't reach out for me," she said, "can't you see I'm drownin' too?" What a master of words. This is a great song. Love Love and Theft. Thanks for the post.

  55. l.... ....

    Even in the 2000s, Bob Dylan can still create haunting pieces of music!