"Tornado Ripe" lyrics

Mama used to tell me that flies was the devil's ears and eyes
Mama used to tell me that flies was the devil's ears and eyes
And if you was to see a crow on a chimney, meant somebody was fixin' to die

I looked up on our shack late one day and saw a crow on a stove pipe
I looked up on our shack late one day and saw a crow on a stove pipe
Daddy come runnin' in said "Gather everybody up, them clouds outside is tornado ripe"

We was runnin' to the cellar, when it began to rain and hail
We was runnin' to the cellar, when it began to rain and hail
The sky was black and jade now and them clouds had grown a tail

We was hunkered down in the darkness and outside was a fitful sound
We was hunkered down in the darkness and outside was a fitful sound
It was if God hinself was belchin' and growlin' and spittin' on the ground

Mama was cryin', daddy was cussin' little sister was just snifflin'
Mama was cryin', daddy was cussin' little sister was just snifflin'
We come out of that hole in the ground, in all directions of the compass was death and kindlin'
We come out of that hole in the ground, in all directions of the compass was death and kindlin'