Everything’s predictable in little river town
Barges and tobacco, drinking straight Kentucky brown
Mama’s bunions swelling when there’s evil creeping round
Like bodysnatchers
You know she used to tell me she was gazing out at space
I can feel them coming down to pilfer and erase
And I should have told you the first time that I saw you face to face
That you’re a bodysnatcher
Chorus
I sold my soul for something up on Barford Hatches
Twenty years and lining down the tracks
Mama said next time you see the bodysnatchers
Tell them all they’d better get back
You better get back, get back, get back
You better get back you body snatchers
You better get back, get back, get back
You better get back you body snatchers
Each Mississippi river queen tries to play the saint
This far down the river you pretend you're whatcha ain't
I’m the son of a son of a pioneer gun, I slather on the paint
Like a bodysnatcher
The nameless tombstones crumble o’er the graves of Cairo kings
When there’s high water everywhere it covers everything
And when the sun comes out of nowhere you can hear the birdies sing
You’re the bodysnatcher
Chorus
I guess if it was up to me I’d probably let you live
But Mama, when you cross her, she’s slower to forgive
She’d stick you full of pins and leave you bleeding like a sieve
For bodysnatching
So when you come around here you best be waving something white
A pillowcase or a handkerchief ought to get the message right
And you oughta try not thieving things in the middle of the night
Don’t be a bodysnatcher
Chorus
I don't really hear "Bartahatchie" but I also don't have any other suggestions.
"The nameless gravestones" should be "The nameless tombstones"
Anyone else hear an "ought" in here?
"A pillowcase or a handkerchief ought to get the message right"
Could the "up on" in that line be "upon"?
and
"This far down the river you pretend you are Jane" This makes no sense to me.
To me it sounds like:
"This far down the river you pretend ya whatcha ain't"