There was a terrible flood that year
People lost everything they had
Their crops, their live stock
That means their horses, their mules, cows
Goats and everything they had on their farm
And they would start cryin' and singin' this song
They tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone
Lord, they tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone
They tell me, Joe turner been here and gone
Then they would go out hunting rabbits, 'coons and 'possoms
Anything they could catch
Sometimes they would catch something, then again they didn't
And when they would come home, they would find
Flour meat and molasses
In their homes and they would know that
Joe Turner had been there and left food for them
And they would start cryin' and singin' this song
They tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone
Lord, they tell me, that Joe turner been here and gone
They tell me, Joe Turner been here and gone
Then they would start out lookin' for wood
And stuff to make a fire
And they would look in their yards, and they would find axes, wood
That Joe Turner had brought there for them
Then they would get happy
And start singin' and cryin' this song
They would get happy and do a little boogie-woogie too