When the sun goes down, the tide goes out The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout Hey hey Uncle Dud it's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud What a dance do they do Lordy how I'm telling you They don't need no band They keep time by clapping their hands Just as happy as a cow chewing on a cud When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi mud Lordy how they play it Goodness how they sway it Uncle Joe, Uncle Jim How they pound that fire with vigor and vim Joy that music thrills me Boy it nearly kills me What a show when they go They beat it out either fast or slow The sun goes down, the tide goes out The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout Hey hey Uncle Dud it's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud What a dance do they do Oh, how I'm telling you They don't need no band They keep time by clapping their hands Just as happy as a cow chewing on a cud Everyone'll be there and his Uncle Dud Happy as a cow chewing on a cud When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi mud M-i-s-s-i M-i-s-s M-i-s-s-i and so forth Spells Mississippi mud