[Verse 1]
Billy had a mistress down on 'A' and 12th
She was that little somethin' that he did for himself
His own little secret, didn't hurt nobody
Come the afternoon, he'd take her wadin'

[Chorus]
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start out standing, but end up crawlin', son

[Verse 2]
Got in some trouble and needed a hand from a friend of mine
This old friend had a figure in mind
It was nothing illegal, just a little bit funny
He said "C'mon, don't tell me that the rich don't know
Sooner or later, it all comes down to money"

[Chorus]
And you're waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start on higher ground, but end up crawlin', sonny

[Bridge]
Well I had a friend said, "You watch what you do
Poison snake bites you and you're poison too"
[Verse 3]
Well, how beautiful the river flows and the birds they sing
Yeah, but you and I, we're messier things
Ain't no one leavin' this world, buddy
Without their shirttail dirty or their hands a little bloody

[Chorus]
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
You start on higher ground, but end up somehow crawlin', sonny

[Outro]
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
Waist deep in the big muddy
Woo!
Woo