Lonnie Johnson - St. Louis Cyclone Blues (1927) lyrics

I was sitting in my kitchen, lookin’ ‘way out cross the sky.

I was sitting in my kitchen, lookin’ out across the sky.

I thought the world was ending, I started in to cry.

The wind was howlin’, the buildings beginnin’ to fall.

The wind was howlin’, the buildings beginnin’ to fall.

I seen that mean old twister comin’, just like a cannonball.

The world was black as midnight, I never heard such a noise before.

The world was black as midnight, I never heard such a noise before.

Sound like a million lions, when they turn loose their roar.

Oh, people was screamin’, and runnin’ every which away.

Oh, people was screamin’, runnin’ every which away.

(Lord have mercy on our poor people!) [spoken words, Lonnie Johnson]

I fell down on my knees, I started in to pray.

The shack where we were living, she reeled and rocked but never fell.

(Lord, Have mercy!) [spoken words, Lonnie Johnson]

The shack where we were living, it reeled and rocked but never fell.

(Have mercy!) [spoken words, Lonnie Johnson]

How the cyclone spared us, nobody but the Lord can tell.