“High Water Everywhere,” by Charlie Patton, details the account of a society overwhelmed by a flood.  The narrator takes us through his options of where to flee, saying, “I’m gonna move to Greenville…. Boy, I’m goin’ to Vicksburg…” and so on.

         The shape of the song fits A, A’, B format.  But Patton also embellishes the song in every A, A’, B succession by singly every stanza uniquely with different voice inflections and strumming patterns. For instance, the line, “Lord the whole round country,” differs in tone and rhythm from “well backwater done rose all around,” even though they are both versions of the “A.”  Moreover, the percussion holds a steady 1, 2, 3, 4 count, but at times, such as “Lord, the water done rushed all over, down old Jackson road,” the beat shifts emphasizes the AND; 1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND.

         The guitar and vocals stay true to “Delta Blues Style.”  The harmony and melody are repetitive, but there are also elements of syncopation, which speak of the “Piedmont Style.” The guitar mainly sticks to strumming, but also utilizes soft plucks.

         As the song plays through, one can notice meticulous changes.  The tempo shifts a bit from the subtle beginning, to the quicker paced line: “River was risin’ high.”  The climax hits at “Now, the water now, mama,” where Patton’s voice raises in forcefulness.  The song builds layers, getting louder and more intense in parts, and then goes back to hold at a steady medium.  There are definitely emphasized lines, which convey stress as well as grit and emotion.

         Additionally, there are also interjections of the casual non-singing voice of another man, such as, “Boy, hit Sharkey County and everything was down in Stovall.”  The rough voices and southern accents add to the layers of storytelling as well.  In the end, the narrator portrays how the people persist, even though it seems the water follows them. The listener is left without closure, since Patton never ends the cyclical journey in his lyrics.