Nick Cave – Tupelo Blues lyrics

(John Lee Hooker 1959)

A song which was a likely inspiration for Tupelo. Nick's song is also available.

Tupelo Blues - John Lee Hooker (3:23) (from the album The Country Blues Of John Lee Hooker, Riverside 1959). Recorded several more times, issued as Vee Jay single "Tupelo (Backwater Blues) / Dusty Road", June 1960; also on 1962 Vee Jay album "The Folklore of John Lee Hooker" as "Tupelo". Also issued a live recording from Newport Folk Festival in the early 60s.

Did ya read about the flood?
Happened long time ago,
In Tupelo, Mississippi.
There were thousands o' lives,
Destroyed.

It rained, it rained,
Both night and day.
The poor people was worried.
Didn't have no place to go.
Could hear may people, cryin' "Lord!"
Have mercy!"
'Cause you're the only one,
That we can turn to"
Happened a long time ago.
A little town,
Way back in Mississippi,
In Tupelo

Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm,
Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm,
Hm- mm, Hm-mm-mm,
Hm-mm, Hm-mm, Hm-mm-mm,


There was women, and there was children,
They were screamin' an' cryin',
Cryin', "Lord, have mercy!
You're the only one now, that we can turn to."


Way back down in Mississippi, a little country town.
I know ya read about it,
'Cause I'll never forget it.
The mighty flood in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Been years ago.

Hm-mm, Hm-mm Hm-mm-mm,
Oh-hoh, Oh- hoh Oh-oh-oh
Hm-mm-mm
Oh-hmm, Lord, have mercy!
Wasn't that a mighty time? Tupelo's gone.