The lyrics often relate troubles experienced within African American society. For instance Blind Lemon Jefferson's "Rising High Water Blues" (1927) tells about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927:
"Backwater rising, Southern peoples can't make no timeI said, backwater rising, Southern peoples can't make no timeAnd I can't get no hearing from that Memphis girl of mine."However, although the blues gained an association with misery and oppression, the lyrics could also be humorous and raunchy as well:[14]
"Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,Rebecca, Rebecca, get your big legs off of me,It may be sending you baby, but it's worrying the hell out of me."