Flood

Rained eight straight days
Then it rained some more
The river ran wild
Like a cocaine whore
Earth to Mud
As the Trouble soaked in
With the bridge washed out
And our Faith stretched thin

We reckoned it'd stop
Like it done before
Got to thinkin' different
When it reached the door
Daddy said "We can't stay,
Else we'll wind up dead"
So I dragged that boat
From in back of the shed

The river was risin'
And I told her so
Said I was sorry
But we had to go
She said "You don't love me,
And you never did.
You trapped me here
With this bastard kid."

I said "It don't matter.
We all gotta go.
Wrap the Baby in a blanket,
No time for no show."
But the storm raged on
Inside a her head
"No way out.
Better off dead"

Took hold of her arm
Pulled 'em toward the door
The water comin' up
Through the cabin floor
But she kept pullin' back
Repeatin' what she'd said
"No way out.
Better off dead."

Through the back door
My heart in my throat
Mama and Daddy
At the back of the boat
She slips from my grip
As the porch gives way
Competin' with Thunder
For Noise of the Day

The water blows past
Pushin' garbage and trees
I fall back in the boat
Climb up to my knees
Liftin' my head
I'm hearin' her scream
Lightning flashin'
A Nightmare's Dream

An instant she struggles
Then they're swept outta sight
Her and the Baby
Into Hell, into Night
A bolt shoots down
Splittin' open the Black
Me shoutin' her name
Daddy holdin' me back

The river pulled back
When the storm finally eased
The crops are all ruined
The well is diseased
We searched for a week
For my Wife and my Child
The pain is all mine
A debt reconciled

Ain't got clothes
No place to sleep
What ain't washed away
Ain't fit to keep
There's a mark on the windows
From where the the water went down
The dog's run off
The cats all drown

Ain't nothin' here
But my folks and me
And this blanket I pulled
From a cypress tree
Ain't no graves
Not even a stone
Don't know where they are
Just know that they're gone

Mamma won't stop cryin'
Daddy don't say shit
Keeps scroungin' around
Can't get 'em to quit
Just more sorry livin'
Workin' in vain
Tradin' Sorry Existence
For Anguish and Pain

A life barely worth livin'
Was all I could give
This ground and this place
Weren't no way to live
But her hard times are over
No space for doubt
In the Wake of the Flood
She found a way out

Now it's my time
For a desperate turn
No chance for redemption
No dry wood to burn
Just the grief and the guilt
Ain't a glimmer of hope
But I'll find my escape
With Whiskey and Rope