When I was just a little girl
My mama said to me
Beware of the devil my childIn the dark rocky places he'll keep
Beware of the devil my child
Beware of his charming waysYou'll fall under an evil spell
Just looking at his beautiful face
You gotta build yourself a levee deep insideDon't go walking by the riverside
Alone in the pale moonlight
He'll come upon you girl
With no earthy body in sightCome up upon you girl
And he'll whisper something sweet, then take you
Where the waters rise so high and run so deepYou gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee girl
When the waters run highNow when I was just a little girl
My mama said to me
Beware of the devil my childBut if by chance you should meet
Beware of his cold dark eyes
Full of bold and unholy deceitHe'll tempt you with a whirling pool of lies
And promises he'll deny
Or that he'll never keepYou gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee deep inside
You gotta build yourself a levee deep inside
Build yourself a levee girl when the waters run high