LYR. ADD: WASN'T THAT A MIGHTY STORM?

Galveston with a seawall
To keep the water down,
But the high tide from the ocean
Washed water over the town.

Wasn't that a mighty storm!
Oh, wasn't that a mighty storm with water!
Wasn't that a mighty storm
That blew the people away!

Their trumpets gave them warning,
"You'd better leave this place."
They never thought of leaving
Till death looked them in the face.

The trains were loaded
With people leaving town.
The tracks give way from the ocean.
The trains they went on down.

Death like a cruel master,
As the wind began to blow,
Rode out on a train of horses.
Said "Death, let me go."

Now Death, in 1900--
That was fifteen years ago--
You throwed a stone at my mother.
With you she had to go.

Now, Death, your hand is icy,
You've got them on my knees.
You done carried away my mother,
Now come back after me.

The trees fell on the island,
The houses give away.
Some people strived and drownded,
Some died 'most every way.

The lightning played [?]
The thunder began to roar,
The wind it began blowing,
The rain began to fall.

The sea it began rolling,
The ships could not land.
I heard the captain crying,
"Please save a drownding man."

Wasn't that a mighty storm!
Oh, wasn't that a mighty storm with water!
Wasn't that a mighty storm
That blew the people away!

"Wasn't That a Mighty Storm?" was recorded by John A. Lomax from the singing of Sin-Killer Griffin and congregation at Darrington State Farm, Sandy Point, Texas, 1934. Library of Congress record LP10.
Duncan Emrich, 1974, "American Folk Poetry, An Anthology," pp. 471-472. Little, Brown & Co.
The part about the trains is incorrect. See above for the true story: Galveston Hurricane

Compare: "Wasn't That a Mighty Day," gospel, thread 39236: Wasn't That a Mighty Day

Compare "Mighty Day," in the DT. Not attributed- from Chad Mitchell Trio? Not same as "Mighty Day" in Fred and Irwin Silber, "Folksinger's Wordbook," Oak Pub., p. 53, copyright Melody Trails, Inc. 1960.