Monday's Poetry: "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy"

by Pa Rock
Poetry Appreciator

Mineko is a lovely lady who lives in Japan.  She spent a year residing with my family as an exchange student in rural Missouri way back in the early 1980's when she was a teenager.  Mineko posts to Twitter most days, usually things which reflect either Japanese or American culture, and she often pairs snippets of song lyrics with thought-provoking photos.

This morning Mineko posted a bit of lyrics from American folk-music icon, Pete Seeger.  The few lines that she quoted were from Seeger's "Waist Deep in the Big Muddy," a song which exposes the danger of mindlessly following fools.  I knew immediately that, whether Mineko intended it or not, those lyrics were timely to the current political situation in the United States.

This song talks about a platoon following  their Captain as he encourages them on in trying to ford the Mississippi on foot.  The Captain ultimately sinks to his death, and his men scramble to shore under the more sensible leadership of the platoon sergeant.

Of course, not every "leader" actually leads.  Some stand on the shore and bark orders.   I suspect that would more accurately reflect where the United States is today.

Nevertheless, with a tip of the hat to Mineko, here is Pete Seeger's tale of a brave but not overly bright young officer trying to ford the Big Muddy as he prepares his platoon to fight in World War II. His determination outweighed common sense.


Waist Deep in the Big Muddy
by Pete Seeger

It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Louisiana,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were, waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie, "
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were, neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral,
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're, waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!