Billie Holiday, in the 1947 Arthur Lubin film "New Orleans," sang what just might be the best lament for New Orleans ever.

The occasion was the police crackdown on the notorious Storyville section with its clubs, whorehouses, gangsters and dives. In the movie all the clubs close, lights go out, and the denizens of Storyville turn out by night, singing Billie's song as they wind through the streets in a mighty exodus.

Though not about a flood, the song rings some dire changes on the present evacuation and the rumors of elite resettlement plans. And it's just plain beautiful. A worthy tribute to a great city in pain.

FAREWELL TO STORYVILLE
As sung by Billie Holiday

All you old-time queens from New Orleans
Who live in Storyville,
You sang the blues, tried to amuse,
Here's how they paid the bill,
The law stepped in, and called it sin
To have a little fun,
The police cop has made us stop
And Storyville is done,

REFRAIN
Pick out your steamboat, pick yourself a train (a slow ol' train),
Pick out your steamboat, pick yourself a train (a slow ol' train),
They made you close up, they'll never let you back (let you back),
Go buy your ticket, or else you'll walk the track, (walk the track)
No use complaining, blue skies follow rain (the cold ol' rain),
No use complaining, blue skies follow rain (the cold ol' rain),
Just say farewell now, and get your one last thrill (your one last thrill),
Just say farewell now, farewell to Storyville.

Here's the tune ABC fashion:

.G .A C C .A    .C .A C C .A   A   Eb C    Eb D   C

.G .A C C .A    .C .A C C .A    D D .B D D D

Repeat line 1 tune

.A .B D D .G .B D D .B D C .B .A .G


REFRAIN:

~E E E C# .A    E .A E E D      (.Å C C .B-A)

~D D D .B .G    Eb C Eb D   D-C    (.A C C B-A)

This two-line tune just repeats over and over throughout the remaining lines of the refrain. It'll tug at your heart.

Blessings,

Bob