Lyrics
Gran used to say if the creek runs low, don’t go looking where the water went. Black Creek bends Black Creek knows Count your steps and mind where you go Found old boots by the cattle gate laces tied, but nobody late Truck still parked by the sycamore tree keys in the dash where they ought to be Sheriff came by around half past four stood with his hat at the kitchen door Said, “Probably walked off, give it a night.” Mum didn’t answer. She knew that wasn’t right. Black Creek bends Black Creek knows Nobody asks where the low water goes RUN WHEN THE WATER GOES QUIET RUN WHEN THE DOGS WON’T CROSS DON’T WAIT AROUND FOR AN ANSWER DON’T STAND COUNTING WHAT GOT LOST BLACK CREEK BLACK CREEK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT NAME DON’T GO DOWN TO BLACK CREEK! Old Miss Harper kept twenty-three names written in pencil behind picture frames Farm boys, drifters, one county cop all went missing when the rainfall stopped Dad said stories get bigger with age then crossed one name off the bottom of the page Wouldn’t explain why his hand went stiff Just folded the paper and finished his drink One for the road Two for the tree Three for the one who shouldn’t be seen Four for the gate Five for the rain Six That’s enough. Don’t finish that game. RUN WHEN THE WATER GOES QUIET RUN WHEN THE CATTLE TURN BACK DON’T WAIT AROUND FOR YOUR BROTHER DON’T FOLLOW PRINTS DOWN THE TRACK BLACK CREEK BLACK CREEK EVERY FAMILY KNOWS THAT NAME DON’T GO DOWN TO BLACK CREEK! Black Creek bends Black Creek knows Takes what comes Keeps what goes Black Creek bends Black Creek Stop. That rhyme had seven lines when I was little. Nobody remembers the last three now. County map folded, red pen running Six old farms and the same creek cutting Records say flood, records say drought Records get vague when the names run out Church bell rang though the rope stayed still Dogs dug hard at the base of the hill Three generations saying “leave it alone” while every new kid gets told on the way home Don’t cross barefoot don’t answer calls don’t follow singing past Miller’s Falls Don’t take the shortcut after dark don’t leave your initials cut in the bark Everybody laughs till somebody’s late Then every old bastard locks the gate Nobody believes what the old folks said until one wet footprint stops beside the bed. Seven. RUN WHEN THE WATER GOES QUIET RUN WHEN THE BIRDS CLEAR OUT DON’T WAIT AROUND FOR AN ANSWER WHEN EVERY OLD MOUTH SHUTS DOWN BLACK CREEK BLACK CREEK NO ONE FORGETS THAT NAME DON’T GO DOWN TO BLACK CREEK! Black Creek bends Black Creek knows Count your people before you go home Black Creek bends Black Creek knows Count again. Six. Wasn’t there seven of us?