In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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'
Well, we can make it to the road in a homemade boat
'Cause that's the only thing we got left that'll float
It's already over all the wheat and 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 lost my bees
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 coming, 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 got to 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'
Two feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
She said it's two feet high and risin'
Well, we can make it to the road in a homemade boat
'Cause that's the only thing we got left that'll float
It's already over all the wheat and 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 lost my bees
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 coming, 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 got to 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'
Lyrics submitted by toterkater, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Five Feet High And Rising Lyrics as written by Johnny R. Cash
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Peermusic Publishing, Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Cash wrote this song about the great flood of 1930-something when he was a young boy in Dyess, Arkansas. It ruined their family farm along with many others.
This is one of my favorite songs. Notice the musical key of the song goes up a half step after each new "foot". His simple descriptions of the water levels paint a picture of his poor, rural viewpoint. You also understand he's a youngster by the frequent questions to his parents. The parents respond with a positive tone reminiscent of how a parent would speak to their young child.
How many people in the present day would describe 4 feet of rising water as "Blessed with Rain".
noah references/connections? Making the end of the world sound fun?:-)
I think flood will not going to be a big catastrophe that is when you get ot it.
It floods here in the Philippines almost everyday, yeah, almost, even in the middle of summer days.
Well, we get used to it, and many manage to make a living out of it. That's life and we just have to get a long.
But ofcourse if the flood will take away lives, it would be a totally different situation then.
Nice song about a flood, I never knew that there is a song about it.
Whatever your opinion on floods, they are a nuisance. Why would you want to get used to them?
The farm was flooded, but the flood waters brought rich fertile soil and they had an excellent cotton crop as a result.
Sometimes things fall apart so they can come together.