Now I never will forget that floating bridge Now I never will forget that floating bridge Now I never will forget that floating bridge Tell me five minutes time under the water I was hid When I was going down I thowed up my hands Now, when I was going down, I thowed up my hands Now, when I was going down, I thowed up my hands Please, take me on dry land Now they carried me in the house and they laid me 'cross the bank Now they carried me in the house and they laid me 'cross the bank Now they carried me in the house and they laid me 'cross the bank "Bout a gallon-and-half muddy water I had drank They dried me off and they laid me in the bed Now, they dried me off and they laid me in the bed Now, they dried me off and they laid me in the bed Couldn't hear nothin' but muddy water runnnin' through my head Now, my mother often taught me, "Quit playin' a bum" Now, my mother often taught me, "Quit playin' a bum" Now, my mother often taught me, son, "Quit playin' a bum, Go somewhere settle down and make a crop" Now, people standin' on the bridge, screamin' and cryin' People on the bridge was screamin' and cryin' Now, the people on the bridge, standin' screamin' and cryin' "Lord, have mercy where's we gwine?"