Through the canvas runs a crack

Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
(Pete Seeger)

It was back in 1942
I was a member of a good platoon
We were on maneuvers in Louisiana
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
The big fool says to push on

The sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on, I’ve forded this river
About 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
The big fool says to push on

Well, the sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man'll 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
The big fool says 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
About 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 going to point any moral
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health
But every time I read the paper
Them old feelings come on
We're waist deep in the Big Muddy
The big fool says to push on

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
The big fool says to push on
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
The big fool says to push on
Waist deep
Neck deep
Soon even a tall man'll be over his head
We're waist-deep in the Big Muddy
The big fool says to push on