The Day the River Ran Backwards

And to this day New Madrid is where my heart is
I still recall those fateful days
December 16th was the first day
We thought the Lord had his vengeance upon us

He shook the ground and turned the day in night
With a noise like thunder loud but distant

Lifted and threw down our timber shacks and cabins
Stopped the clocks, rattled doors and windows
I heard the screams of fear, like our days were numbered
We ran, not knowing where to go

The cries and shrieking of the beasts
The cracking of branches, snapping of the trees

Above all this, we heard the roaring of the river
Seen it run backwards for a while
With mountains of water
Waves like towers
Changing its course to this day

We spent Christmas in the ruins of our belongings
We put it back together and carried on
Just as we felt safe, a few weeks in the new year
The earth moved fiercely once again

They felt the ground shake as far as New York City
In Boston church bells trembled and rang
The pavement cracked in Washington DC
Chimneys fell off roofs way over in Maine

Above all this, we heard the roaring of the river
Seen it run backwards for a while
With mountains of water
Waves like towers
Changing its course to this day