Rufus & Ruby
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before they put cattica on your back, woah oh-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Verse 1]
That was Rufus's promise to Ruby
Rufus swore before he drank that muddy water
He'd be rinse his hands in bloody water
Don't doubt it 'cause you ain't read about it
Man's books ain't written for you and me (Amen)
Listen y'all
Can't you hear old Rufus sayin' it?
Sayin it? Singin' it?
(Woah lord, and he stood up and he said it)
(Oh yeah)
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before they put cattica on your back, woah-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Verse 2]
Rufus was big and he was bad
And everytime his wife would crack a squirrel
Suffer head over heels
As bad as Rufus was, Ruby was sweet
And their love was as deep
As a new furrowed feel
Prettiest thing on two feet
Made a croker sack look like a store bought gown
I'm the big house Mr. Coke
Hankin' after Ruby
Hanked her so hard, he couldn't see
But Rufus saw (Didn't he?)
Didn't he? (Didn't he?)
(Woah lord, and he stood up and he said it)
(Oh yeah)
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before they put cattica on your back, woah-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Verse 3]
Just like his Pa
And before that, his grandpappy
Mr. Copeland had that big house mentality
And when he had a hankering, he wanted to plea
(And lord make the high hole)
Well down there just like the rest of the land
Money and the man always go hand in hand
So Mr. Copeland sent the shaft to fetch Ruby
Rufus was workin' the fourth row
When he jammed me at the door
He was turnin' the fifth row
Burned out and scream
Second time Rufus cried
Hopin' the flunky gave a sigh
And stumbled back with a hole
Where his eye used to be
I'm tellin' you, like it is (Like it is)
Like it is (Like it is)
(Woah lord, and he stood up and he said it)
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before they put cattica on your back, woah-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Verse 4]
Yon decided to ball
Down through the glen
Cut over through the glade
Near side the law
Go Rufus, go!
Hang on tight, Ruby!
Bran's tearin' like a switchin'
From 'cross over
Where the old river bend
If this old voice ever end
Brandish rifle, hit that!
(Woah loard, oh lord, woah lord
Woah lord, Rufus, woah lord)
Soon as I pull this raft 'cross the creek
I'll get you a swizzle as sweet as water
No sooner did Ruby kneel down to drink
Then the Colton gang burst out the wood
Back on the far side of the water
(Woah lord, oh lord)
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before I see 'em put cattica on your back, oh-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Verse 5]
But the Coltons stood there against the sky
With his devil anger in his eye
One was for Ruby
And one was for revenge
"Alright men, we got 'em there
The boy there!"
But he ain't finished
What he was saying yet
Mr. Colton and his two Basset hounds
They spotted the brown
Bent down the sand bar into the water
Then the rest of the men looked down
Past the clipling guppies at him
Even with his eyes wide open
At the bottom of the water
Cliplin' water
Suddenly they didn't come no further
(Mmm hmm)
Maybe suddenly a sense of justice
Come over them
Maybe plain old sense of preservation
It's cold lookin' water (Mmm hmm)
(Uh huh) Who wants to get ducked
By some sharp shootin' buck?
Just 'cause some dead boys
Hankin' to change his luck?
Anyhow, anyhow
Long, long ago
Down by another stream
An old, old man laid it out to me
"Justice is beatiful, son
But it's some time, ain't it?
Always keep your rifle clean" (Amen)
Then he smiled and nodded to Water
(Oh lord, oh lord, oh lord, oh lord)
[Chorus]
Before I let 'em pull you 'cross the track
Before they put cattica on your back, woah-oh
And you be the new big house play thing
Well, there'll be some bodies floatin' down
To the willow spring creek
Keepin' the catfish company
[Outro]
Oh lord, oh lord, oh lord