If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break
When the levee breaks I'll have no place to stay
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Got what it takes to make a mountain man leave his home

Don't they make you feel bad
When you're trying to find your way home
You don't know which way to go
If you're going down South
Then there's no work to do
And you're going on to Chicago

Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks mama you got to move
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
I said left my baby and my happy home

Going, go and to Chicago
Sorry but I can't take you
Going down, going down now