Waist Deep In The Big Muddy

It was back in nineteen forty-two

I was a member of a good platoon

We were on maneuvers in a Loozianna

One night by the light of the moon

The captain told us to ford a river

That's how it all begun

We were knee deep in the Big Muddy

But the big fool said to push on

The sergeant said sir are you sure

This is the best way back to the base

Sergeant go on I forded this river

About a mile above this place

It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging

We'll soon be on dry ground

We were waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool said to push on

The sergeant said sir with all this equipment

No man will be able to swim

Sergeant don't be a nervous Nellie

The captain said to him

All we need is a little determination“

Men follow me I'll lead on

We were neck deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool said to push on

All at once the moon clouded over

We heard a gurgling cry

A few seconds later the captain's helmet

Was all that floated by

The sergeant said turn around men

I'm in charge from now on

And we just made it out of the Big Muddy

With the captain dead and gone

We stripped and dived and found his body

Stuck in the old quicksand

I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper

Than the place he'd once before been

Another stream had joined the Big Muddy

About a half mile from where we'd gone

We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy

When the big fool said to push on

Well I'm not going to point any moral

I'll leave that for yourself

Maybe you're still walking

You're still talking

You'd like to keep your health

But every time I read the papers

That old feeling comes on

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on

Waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on

Waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on

Waist deep neck deep

Soon even a tall man'll be over his head

We're waist deep in the Big Muddy

And the big fool says to push on