Chorus:
i can hardly see my face in the waters of the muddy mississippi
but i can see the shadows of the cotton wood standing over me
the morning sun would find me
swinging from the rope that's hanging free
and i drop in to the waters
and go swimming in the muddy mississippi
A boy came to the delta
and we would swing together from that tree
i could see my dreams in his eyes
as he held on to me
swinging in the sunlight
loving in the shadows
wild and free
and i made him promise he would take me
down to new orleans
Bright lights of the city made my red dress and shoes look brand new
while he worked the night shift
i turned on and i turned loose
i lost my pride i lost my man
i did things a girl like me shouldn't do
Now i can't face this living
with the swelling signs of new life
showing through
I can hardly see my face in the waters of the muddy mississippi
but i can see the shadows of the cotton wood standing over me
the morning sun would find me
hanging from the rope that's swinging free
and i'll swing for the last time over the waters
of the muddy mississippi
Yeah the muddy mississippi