Dm
It was back in nineteen-forty-two
Dm
I was a member of a good platoon.
Dm
We were on maneuvers in Louisiana,
Dm                            A7
One night by the light of the moon.
    Dm
The captain told us to ford a river,
G                 A7
That's how it all begun.
            Dm
We were knee-deep in the big muddy
A7                            Dm
But the big fool said to push on.


Dm
The sergeant said, "sir, are you sure,
Dm
this is the best way back to the base?"
Dm
"Sergeant, go on, I forded this river
                         A7
'bout a mile above this place.
Dm
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging
G                      A7
we'll soon be on dry ground."
         Dm
we were waist-deep in the big muddy
A7                            Dm
and the big fool said to push on

Dm
The sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
Dm
no man will be able to swim."
Dm
"Sergeant, don't be a nervous nellie."
Dm                   A7
The captain said to him
Dm
"All we need is a little determination;
G                         A7
men, follow me, I'll lead on."
            Dm
We were -- neck-deep in the big muddy
A7                            Dm
and the big fool said to push on.

Dm
All at once, the moon clouded over,
Dm
we heard a gurgling cry.
Dm
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
    A7
was all that floated by.
Dm
The sergeant said, "turn around men!
G                      A7
I'm in charge from now on."
        Dm
and we just made it out of the big muddy
         A7               Dm
with the captain dead and gone.

Dm
We stripped and dived and found his body
Dm
stuck int he old quicksand.
Dm
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
                     A7
than the place, he'd once before been.
Dm
another stream had joined the big muddy
G                                    A7
'bout a half-mile from where we'd gone.
         Dm
We were lucky to escape from the big muddy
        A7                     Dm
when the big fool said to push on.

Dm
Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
Dm
I'll leave that for yourself.
Dm
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
          A7
you'd like to keep your health.
Dm
But every time I read the papers
G                      A7
that old feeling comes on;
         Dm*         Dm*                Dm*      (*Single-Strums)
We're -- waist-deep. Neck-deep. Soon a tall man will be over his head.
        Dm
We're waste-deep in the big muddy.
        A7                    Dm
And the big fool says to push on.