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 down1?
Oh well, where were you now, babe, Clarksdale mill burned down?
(spoken: Boy, you know where I were)
"I were way down Sunflower2 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 whistle3, 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
