johnny cash
In January and February 1937, Ohio river went berserk, killed 385 people, left one million people homeless and caused property losses passed half a billion dollars ... more than ten billions after today's exchange rate.
The Cash family were among the many who had to evacuate, and 18 years later, Johnny recalled the situation in this song, from a small child's point of view.
It was released 6th of July 1959 as a single with "I Got Stripes" on the other side, and appears as second track on his third Columbia album "Songs of Our Soil" same year and month.
The song is a classic "boom-chicka-boom" (look HERE for the story behind), but I like to slow it down and go a little bit jazz. Originally, this is a four-chord song, transposed for each verse.
how high's the water mama?
«two feet high and risin'»
how high's the water papa?
«she said it's two feet high and risin' :
we can make it to the road in a homemade boat
that's the only thing we got left that'll float
it's already over all the wheat and the oats
two feet high and risin'»
how high's the water mama?
«three feet high and risin'»
how high's the water papa?
«she said it's three feet high and risin' :
well the hives are gone • I've lost my bees
the chickens are sleepin' in the willow trees
cow's in water up past her knees
three feet high and risin'»
how high's the water mama?
«four feet high and risin'»
how high's the water papa?
«she said it's four feet high and risin' :
hey come look through the window pane
the bus is comin' gonna take us to the train
looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain
four feet high and risin'»
how high's the water mama?
«five feet high and risin'»
how high's the water papa?
«she said it's five feet high and risin' :
well the rails are washed out north of town
we gotta head for higher ground
we can't come back till the water goes down
five feet high and risin'»
well it's five feet high and risin'
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
A [E7sus4] [E7] how high's the water mama A [F#m] [E7+9...E7] two feet high and risin' A [E7sus4] [E7] how high's the water papa A [Adim] [E7] she said it's two feet high and risin' A A7 we can make it to the road in a homemade boat D [Adim] D7 that's the only thing we got left that'll float B E7 it's already over all the wheat and the oats E A two feet high and risin'
