“Back Water Blues” by Dinah Washington is a powerful and emotional song that captures the despair and resilience of people affected by floods, especially in African American communities in the American South. This song was originally written and recorded by blues legend Bessie Smith in 1927, in response to the devastating Mississippi River floods of that era.
In her 1957 version, Dinah Washington brings a unique, soulful quality to the song, her voice conveying both the sorrow and strength of those enduring such hardships. The song’s lyrics speak of the overwhelming impact of rising floodwaters, the sense of helplessness, and the struggle for survival. Her interpretation is backed by a jazz ensemble, adding a fresh yet respectful twist to Smith’s classic blues narrative.
Washington’s rendition of Back Water Blues is celebrated not only for its technical vocal mastery but also for the way she channels deep emotion into the performance, which resonates with listeners who can feel the weight of the story she tells. It’s a testament to her ability to convey complex emotions through music, making it a memorable and enduring blues standard.
Lyrics
When it rains five daysAnd the skies turn black as nightI said when it rains five daysAnd the skies turn black as nightYou know there’s trouble in the lowlandsAnd everything ain’t rightWell, well, I woke up this mornin’Couldn’t even get out of my doorYeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I woke up this mornin’I couldn’t even get out of my doorThere was enough troubleTo make a poor girl wonder where she’s oughta go‘Bout that time they rowed a little boatAbout five miles across the farmYeah, yeah, I said they rowed a little boat, rowed a little boatAbout five miles across the farmI packed up all of my clothes, and throwed them inThen they rowed me right alongThat’s why, that’s why the blues done called meCalled me to pack my clothes and goThe blues done called meCalled me to pack my clothes and go‘Cause my house done fell downAnd I can’t live there no moreSomebody, somebody, somebody please tell meWhere there’s for a poor girl like me to goYeah, can’t you see I’m tired?And I don’t feel like moving no moreBut, but if I ever get my nerves settled down, LordI’ll be a mill so and so
