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It was back in nineteen forty-two, |
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I was a member of a good platoon. |
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We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna, |
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One night by the light of the moon. |
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The captain told us to ford a river, |
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That's how it all begun. |
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We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy, |
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But the big fool said to push on. |
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The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure, |
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This is the best way back to the base?" |
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"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river |
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'Bout a mile above this place. |
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It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging. |
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We'll soon be on dry ground." |
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We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy |
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And the big fool said to push on. |
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The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment |
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No man will be able to swim." |
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"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie," |
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The Captain said to him. |
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"All we need is a little determination; |
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Men, follow me, I'll lead on." |
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We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy |
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And the big fool said to push on. |
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All at once, the moon clouded over, |
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We heard a gurgling cry. |
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A few seconds later, the captain's helmet |
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Was all that floated by. |
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The Sergeant said, "Turn around men! |
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I'm in charge from now on." |
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And we just made it out of the Big Muddy |
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With the captain dead and gone. |
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We stripped and dived and found his body |
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Stuck in the old quicksand. |
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I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper |
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Than the place he'd once before been. |
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Another stream had joined the Big Muddy |
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'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone. |
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We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy |
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When the big fool said to push on. |
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Well, I'm not going to point any moral; |
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I'll leave that for yourself |
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Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking |
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You'd like to keep your health. |
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But every time I read the papers |
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That old feeling comes on; |
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We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy |
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And the big fool says to push on. |
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Waist deep in the Big Muddy |
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And the big fool says to push on. |
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Waist deep in the Big Muddy |
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And the big fool says to push on. |
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Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a |
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Tall man'll be over his head, we're |
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Waist deep in the Big Muddy! |
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And the big fool says to push on! |
