Natalie Merchant – Build A Levee

When I was just a little girl, my mama said to me:
Beware of the devil my child
in the dark, rocky places he'll keep.
Beware of the devil my child,
beware of his charming ways.
You'll fall under an evil spell
just looking at his beautiful face.

You better build yourself a levee deep inside

Don't go walking by the riverside alone in the pale moonlight.
He'll come up upon you girl with no earthly body in sight
Come up on you girl and he'll whisper something sweet
And take you where the waters rise so high and run so deep.

You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high

Now when I was just a little girl, my mama said to me:
Beware of the devil my child, but if by chance you should meet
Beware of his cold dark eyes, full of bold and unholy deceit
He'll tempt you with a whirling pool of lies
And promises he'll deny or that he will never keep

You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside.
Build yourself a levee deep inside.
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high.

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