A painted lady sings a lullabye.
A raindrop falls from an empty sky.
A steamboat's lying on a river bed.
The captain smiles and his eyes are red.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water washing over me.

A lady's riding bareback on a horse.
I know that Babylon must be her course.
An old man's laughing at the dead of night, but I don't care if her is black or white.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water washing over me.

The summer heat burns the skin on my face, and the trees shimmer so in this quiet place.
A bird up high sings a song that I know, and those sweet melodies fall down like snow.
A crowd of people watch an empty stage.
There's no performers but still they stay, moonlight dances on a slide trombone.
The captain whistles as he wanders home.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water washing over me.
Mississippi water.
Mississippi water. (repeat to fade)