On the shores of Louisian
Took my sweet cher Jolie-Ann
For my own, my very own
Now every man has got his pride
I tried to shelter and provide
But I can't stop this poison tide
Rolling in, rolling in
Now I've nothing left to give her
No answer to her prayers
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
Then came the wind, then came the rain
We defied that hurricane
And we built this house again
Stone by stone, stone by stone
But in the gulf of Mexico
Some five thousand feet below
Oh, the devil's blood it flows
On and on, on and on
I've nothing left to give her
No answer to her prayers
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
Oh, how her eyes they used to shine
Fairest in Evangeline
Now they stare so cold and blind
Through my soul, oh lord, my soul
She was tangled in the salt-grass
Not a bullet left to spare
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair
Black ribbons on the water
Black ribbons for her hair