The Crawdad Song (Version 2)
by 
Big Bill Broonzy 
recording of 19 
from Blues Roots Vol. 4, 
You'll get a line, this the way the women sang it 
You'll get a line, I'll get a pole, honey, and put the babies to sleep 
You'll get a line, I'll get a pole, babe, 
You'll get a line, I'll get a pole, and the men came in, 
let's go down to that crawdad 
hole 
Now, honey, baby, mine 
Yond'r come a man with a sack on his back, now, honey 
Yond'r come a man with a sack on his back, oh, babe 
Yond'r come a man with a sack on his back, 
he's got him all crawdads he can pack, 
Now, honey, baby, mine 
Man fell down and he broke that sack, now, honey 
Man fell down and he broke that sack, babe 
Man fell down and he broke that sack, 
you'd better see them all crawdads crawlin' back 
Now, honey, baby, mine 
Sat on the pole, my feet got cold, now, honey 
Sat on the pole, my feet got cold, babe 
Sat on the pole, my feet got cold, 
I was lookin' right down that crawdads hole 
Honey, baby, mine 
What you gonna do when the pond goes dry, now, honey 
What you gonna do when the pond goes dry, babe 
What you gonna do when the pond goes dry 
I'm gonna stand on the bank, 
and watch the crawdads die 
Honey, baby, mine 
I sat on the pole, my feet got cold, now, honey 
Sat on the pole, my feet got cold, babe 
Sat on the pole, my feet got cold, 
lookin' right down that crawdads hole 
Now, honey, baby, mine 
What did the he duck said to the drake, now, honey 
What did the he duck said to the drake, babe 
What did the he duck said to the drake, 
there ain't no crawdads in this lake 
Honey, baby, mine 
__________ 
Note 1: alteration of crawfish, any of numerous freshwater fish resembling the lobster but usually much smaller, word used chiefly west of the Appalachians.