I am searching for flood songs, especially those that mention a river.
I live in Port Hope, Ontario. Port Hope is a small town (population 16700) at about the halfway point on the north shore of Lake Ontario. It is photogenic enough that several movies have been shot here, the latest being the two IT movies. The Ganaraska River (The Ganny) bisects the town and on Friday, March 21, 1980, an ice jam caused The Ganny to flood the downtown of Port Hope. This flood was so severe that several buildings on the banks of the river, including the Sears store and the Firehall museum were completely destroyed. A number of cars were washed out into Lake Ontario and the town was left in a shambles. Every year since that time, there is a river race to commemorate The Great Port Hope Flood called Float Your Fanny Down The Ganny. A local doctor, Paul Caldwell, wrote a song about the flood called Fanny In The Ganny to the tune of Turkey In The Straw.
Fanny In The Ganny Paul Caldwell
Well I was [C] sittin' all alone on a rainy day, Dreamin' 'bout the summer, not so [G7] far away, I was [C] thumbin' through a copy of the Sears catalog They had a summer sale on - I [G7] said, "Good [C] God!" Well they had [C] beach balls, tennis balls, sun hats too, Everything for summer I was [G7] feelin' blue Even [C] though it was a-pourin' I rushed down to Sears Summer was a-ringin' to my [G7] rain drenched [C] ears.
Fanny in the Ganny, [F] Fanny in the Ganny, Grab a [C] sponge and a bucket And thank your good [G7] luck it wasn't [C] you...it wasn't [F] you, Grab a [C] sponge and a bucket and thank your good [G7] luck Put your [C] fanny in the Ganny and [G7] squawk like a [C] duck
Well when I got downtown I was standing in the store when the Ganaraska River came a[G7]flowin' through the door So I [C] said to the man as I climbed upon a chair "Is the Ganaraska River sup[G7]posed to be [C]there?" Well, he looked at me and he said with a frown, "There's Ganaraska River in this [G7] whole darn town." I got [C] water in my knickers, I got water down my neck And the Ganaraska River hasn't [G7] crested [C] yet.
So I said to the guy, "Is the summer sale on? The weatherman said it won't be [G7] cloudy for long. So he [C] rolled up his trousers, he didn't take much dope, He said, "Listen Buddy, can you [G7] do the breast [C] stroke?" Then he picked up a bucket and he started to bale He said, "We're gonna have ourselves a [G7] liquidation sale. [C] Water wings, sump pumps, nose plugs too. The prices are falling 'cause the [G7] building is [C] too."
Water's comin' in the window, water's comin' in the door. The guy was treadin' water in the [G7] middle of the floor, So I [C] bought a set of water wings and inflated them fast because the Ganaraska River was [G7] climbing up my [C] fanny. And I thought to myself as the water reached my knees The Port Hope Council's always [G7] tryin' to please, I [C] don't suppose the mayor made the river full to make the Port Hope boat people [G7] feel at [C] home.
Well I hopped a floating sofa 'cause I couldn't take a bus It didn't cost any money, so I [G7] didn't make a fuss And my [C] downtown tour was kinda short and kinda sweet Into the big open [G7] window to the [C] street. I was munchin'on a do-nut when I crashed through a wall The siren was a wailin'on that [G7] old fire hall And the [C] people at the hotel were the calmest ones in town 'cause all of them are used to drinking [G7] beer watered [C] down.