Circle left
I was born in the rain on the Pontchartrain
Underneath the Louisiana moon
Men star right roll it one time
Left allemande and weave that ring
The high black water, a devil's daughter
She's hard, she's cold and she's mean
But nobody taught her, it takes a lot of water
To wash away New Orleans

Heads promenade and go halfway
Walk in and pass the ocean for me, extend
Swing thru now and the boys run
Bend the line and a right & left thru
Flutter wheel across, and then slide thru
Swing your corner lady, promenade
Bridges are getting' lower
Shrimp boats are comin' home

Sides face grand square
Man came down from Chicago
He gonna set that levee right
He said, "It needs to be at least three feet higher
It won't make it through the night", Allemande and weave
But the old man down in the Quarter
He said "Don't you listen to that boy
The water'll be down by the morning
And he'll be back to Illinois"

Four boys promenade inside that ring
Get back home and you swing
Join hands circle left, around that ring
Left allemande and weave
The high black water, a devil's daughter
She's hard, she's cold and she's mean
But nobody taught her it takes a lot of water
To wash away New Orleans