Rufus & Ruby

Lyrics

[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