Aw that moon has gone down baby North Star 'bout to shine
Aw the moon goin' down baby North Star 'bout to shine
Rosetta Henry told me Lord, I don't want you hangin' 'round
Oh well where were you now baby
Clarksdale
mill burned down
Oh well where were you now babe Clarksdale mill burned down?
(spoken: Boy you know where I were)
I were way down
Sunflower
with my face all full-a frowns
They's a house over yonder painted all over green
They's a house over yonder painted all over green
(spoken: Boy you know I know it's over there!)
Some of the finest young women Lord a man most ever seen
Lord I think I heard the Helena whistle
Helena whistle Helena whistle blow
Lord I think I heard the Helena whistle blow
(spoken: Well I hear it blowin' now)
Lord I ain't gonna stop walkin' till I get in my
rider
's door
Note 1: the upper
Mississippi Delta
town of Clarksdale suffered a serious fire in 1899;
Note 2: whether Patton means the river the town or the county of Sunflower is unclear;
Note 3: probably a steamboat or a train named after the city of Helena
