There’s a song whose lyrics I want to include in a fan-fiction story. To be on the safe side, I want to include a disclaimer acknowledging the author of the song and that it’s copywrighted. Unfortunately, what I THOUGHT was the title of the song, “Roll Back Water” apparently isn’t, and I don’t know who wrote it, although I suspect it’s a Lynnard Skynnard song.
The lyrics go as follows…
The song ends with
Surely somebody out there in the Teeming Millions knows what I’m talking about?
That would be “Black Water” by the Doobie Brothers, I believe:
Well, I built me a raft
And she’s ready for floatin’
Old Mississippi, she’s calling my name
Catfish are jumpin’
That paddle wheel pumpin’
Black water keep rollin’ on past just the same
{Refrain}
Oh black water, keep on rolling
Mississippi moon won’t you keep on shining on me
(3X)
Yeah, keep on shining your light
Gonna make everything, pretty mama
Gonna make everything all right
And I ain’t got no worries
Cause I ain’t in no hurry at all
Well if it rains I don’t care
Don’t make no difference to me
Just take that streetcar that’s goin’ uptown
Yeah, I like to hear some funky Dixieland
And dance some Honky Tonk
And I be buyin’ everybody drinks all 'round
{Refrain}
Keep on shining your light
Gonna make everything, everything
Gonna make everything all right
And I ain’t got no worries
'Cause I ain’t in no hurry at all
I like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand
Take me by the hand, pretty mama
Come and dance with your daddy all night long
I like to hear some funky Dixieland
Pretty mama come and take me by the hand
By the hand, hand
I want to honky tonk
Take me by the hand, pretty mama
Honky tonk, honky tonk
Come on and dance with your daddy all night long
With you all night long
{Repeat to fade}
Know the song well from my youth (ouch…), and I think you are right about it being Lynard Skynard, but it may be CCR.
As far as the lyrics go, I think it’s black water, not back water. I’ve tried doing a couple of searches, but I can’t find anything of value…
I’m no help. I thought it was “Black Water”.
Peace,
mangeorge
Oh yeah…and it was written by Patrick Simmons. 
This appears to be the tune:
Black Water
by Patrick Simmons
©1974 WB Music Corp. &
Lansdowne Music Publishers
All Rights Reserved
I found it at this Doobie Brothers site.
Yep, Doobies;
http://members.tripod.com/~Ladymafia/ml-960.html
Peace,
mangeorge
Thanks a lot, guys! No wonder I couldn’t find the song at http://www.lyrics.ch – not only did I have the title of the song wrong, I wasn’t anywhere near the correct artist!