WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY (THE BIG MUDDY)

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Song Title
WAIST DEEP IN THE BIG MUDDY (THE BIG MUDDY)
Writers
Seeger
Publisher
MELODY TRAILS, INC. (BMI)
% Publisher Controls
100%
Territory Controlled
WORLD
Themes/Keywords
Big, Captain, dead, Deep, Determination, Endurance, Escape, Louisiana, Perseverance, Sargeant, Swim, Waist, War
Lyrics
It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the Captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the Captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not gonna point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking and you're still talking
And you'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep!
Soon even a tall man'll be over his head,
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!

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