I built this house with my bare hands
on the shores of Louisian
took my sweet cher Jolie-Ann
for my own - my very own
now every man has got his pride
I tried to shelter and provide
But I can't stop this poison tide
rollin' in - rollin' in
Now I've nothing left to give her
No answer to her prayers
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
came the wind, came the rain
we defied that hurricane
and we built this house again
stone by stone - stone by stone
But in the Gulf of Mexico
5000 feet below
oh the devil's blood it flows
on and on - on and on
Now I've nothing left to give her
No answer to her prayers
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
oh how her eyes they used to shine
fairest in Evangeline
Now they stare so cold and blind
through my soul - oh Lord my soul
she was tangled in the saltgrass
not a bullet left to spare
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
Song Discussions is protected by U.S. Patent 9401941. Other patents pending.