Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,reggie miles
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 11:55 PM

I can't exactly explain the melody line I used here accept to say that it was an adaptation of a minor keyed blues by Skip James. I was inspired by the song as it was sung by the character who played Tommy Johnson in the movie "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". He was softly playing a small piece of it on guitar and singing it. While trying to figure out the guitar part, I ended up creating the melody that I used for the words below.

(Sorry I know this is rather vague.)

There was an old song that a friend used to sing. He called it, "High Water Blues". I took the verse pattern of his song and applied it to the minor keyed melody that I developed from the Skip James song in "Oh Brother". I used the first two verses of "High Water Blues" in this song except I altered the two line after parts.

(Are you confused yet?)

My minor keyed melody line (inspried by Skip James) plus, a couple of altered verses from "High Water Blues" along with a handful of my own, equals, "Katrina Blues".

Katrina Blues Reggie Miles 2005

I'm in Mississippi
Mud all in my shoes
My gal's in Louisiana
Got them high water blues

I got nuthin' left to lose
Got them high water blues

Hard times here
My house has washed away
Sittin' here prayin'
For a sunny day

Now I'm cryin' every day
My house has washed away

This river levee
Is long and tall
Katrina came to visit
Made that levee fall

Ain't nuthin' left at all
She made that levee fall

The mayor said
Move to higher ground
But there ain't no hills
For miles around

No hills to be found
In this old Delta town

Sittin' here moanin'
'Bout the hurricane
Times like these
Drive a man insane

It's a cryin' shame
About that hurricane

Katrina Katrina
You've got to go
Don't want you hangin
Round here no mo

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Ingrid Frances Stark
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 10:53 PM

I was sewing up a rip in Steve's jeans, ("sewing uo his old blue jeans") and got The House of the Rising Sun running through my head. Then it started to change, and this song fell out. Steve told me about this thread, so here it is:

Katrina's Rising Tide
©2005 by Ingrid Frances Stark

There is a storm in New Orleans
Katrina's rising tide
The rich folks fled to northern climes
The poor folks stayed and died

Katrina howled and the levees failed
Folks had nowhere to run
Those with no cars could not get far
On the road they bake in the sun

Old mother called on Tuesday morn
"When will someone be down?"
She called again the next two days
On Friday she was drowned

The president expressed his grief
Said, "Help we must now send."
I'm sure that is a great relief
To the levees no one would mend

O' mother, tell your children
Not to trust the government
They promised aid, then turned away
The help that others sent

There is a storm in New Orleans
Katrina's rising tide
Its been the ruin of many poor souls
Who were left behind and died
Politicians lied, and the poor folks died
In Katrina's rising tide.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Stephen Johnson (dantesdad)
Date: 21 Sep 05 - 08:48 AM

Here's a version of City of New Orleans I threw together two weeks ago. I posted it in my LiveJornal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/dantesdad/306914.html

and here's the full version to save you from having to click. It helps to play Arlo's version to figure out the cadence. I tried to follow his version as best as I could...

City of New Orleans
By Arlo Guthrie - originally written by Steve Goodman - Katrina rewrite by Stephen Johnson

Living in the City of New Orleans
I'm gettin' by, but poor as poor can be
I voted for the man who'd keep me safest
By God, I knew he'd do alright by me.

All along the length of Bourbon Street friendly faces smile at me
Strolling down past cafes, pubs and bars
Passing I remember when, city full of old black men
Played saxaphones under the moon and stars.

Good mornin' America, how are you?
Don't you know me? I'm your native son!
I'm the place they call the City of New Orleans
I'll be doing fine soon as this storm is gone.

You know some say you lied to take us to war
Betting our lives, hoping no one's keeping score
Cut our funds and hoping for the best
But I hear the waves lapping at my door

You said no one could ever forsee this disaster
But that lie you tried to spread was soon revealed
Families with no cash or car, prayed to God to please stand guard
But the rising tide just would not recede

Good mornin' America, how are you?
Say don't you know me? I'm your native son!
I'm the jewel called the City of New Orleans.
I'll be under 20 feet when the day is done.

Swimming through the City of New Orleans
Wish I was in Memphis, Tennessee
Superdome, yeah we'll be there by morning'
And the federal government sure will rescue me

But all the men and women seem to drown in this bad dream
And the journalists still ain't told the truth
The president, he lies again
And asks us not to assign blame
This rain's sure made me lose my faith in you

Good night America, how are you?
Say don't you know me? I'm your native son!
I'm the lesson called the City of New Orleans.
I'll lose 50,000 lives before the nightmare's gone.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 04:44 PM

And which ethnicity?

(I have a funny feeling that hancer1124 is talking about "Louisiana 1927" by Randy Newman -- the man -- and that the rendition hancer heard was by Aaron Neville, whose voice might well sound like a woman's to someone who doesn't recognize the artist.)

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 10 Sep 05 - 02:26 AM

WHICH Song?

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Streets of Evangeline
From: GUEST,hancer1124
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:59 PM

I know this song was originally sang by a man but on Foxs News Channel the other night they had it playing but with a woman or group singing it, sounded like a ethnic woman, she sang it good, does anyone know who this was, I want this soundtrack.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:37 PM

Here's my own attempt on the subject (TTO When the Saints Go Marching In)

Oh when the storm goes raging in (2x)
Dubya won't end his vacation
When the storm goes raging in

And when the troops go marching in...
Well, it won't be in New Orleans...

And when the levees overflow...
All the rich will leave the city...

And when the poor begin to die...
Bush will try to blame the Gov'nor...

And when the oil prices rise...
Georgie's buddies won't be cryin'...

And when at last, his ratings fall...
Lord, I hope they don't recover...


I do realise it's rather heavy-handed -- any suggestions, folks?

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Flash Company
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 10:56 AM

Something on the lines of the 'Calypso Blind Blake' song 'Run come see Jerusalem' seems appropriate, espcially the penultimate line 'Come, Lord witness your judgement'.
I haven't time to work on it as I am going into a no computer zone for the next two weeks, but offer it to anyone else who wants to give it a go.
If the thread is still around when I come home and I've got anything worked out, I will add it then.
FC

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: freda underhill
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 06:49 AM

here is a version by Australian poet, Keith McKenry

The City of New Orleans
          (with apologies to Steve Goodman)


Bearing on the City of New Orleans,
Katrina – massive Force Five hurricane -
The order comes to flee the helpless city,
Take the kids and run from the coming gale.
All along the northbound odyssey
The folk pull out and try to flee
Rollin' long past houses, farms and fields.
Leaving those that have no means,
Women, children, old black men,
In the graveyard of America's ideals.

CHORUS:
Good morning America where are you?
Don't you know, we're begging you to come?
We're the town they call the City of New Orleans,
There'll be thousands of us dead ere day is done.

The dead lie with the living in the Stadium.
And more arrive – ain't no one keepin' score.
Pass the paper bag that holds the bottle
Feel the whole world crumblin' 'neath the floor.
And the sons of pullman porters,
Daughters of engineers,
Hide their fears 'neath the mighty roof of steel.
Mothers with their babes asleep,
Are rockin' to a deafening beat
For the hurricane's horror's all they feel.

CHORUS

Nighttime in the City of New Orleans,
This is not the way things ought to be.
Help you say it should be here by morning,
But it's four days now. We're dying,
Can't you see?
And all the stricken people scream
– If only this could be a dream –
And the ruling class still ain't heard the news.
The Pres'dent sings his song again,
"You citizens, please stay calm."
This town's got the disappearing gov'ment blues.

LAST CHORUS:
Good night America, where were you?
Don't you know, we all begged you to come?
We're the ghosts that haunt the City of New Orleans,
We were abandoned here. Our day is done.

                                6 September 2005

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 07:37 PM

Well, useful for a chorus anyway!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 07:35 PM

New Orleans gonna drown again!
TTO: Dem bones gonna rise again!

New Orleans gonna drown again
Drown again, drown again,
New Orleans gonna drown again
Now hear the word of the Lord!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 03:57 PM

Actually, now that I see what the lyrics for Mighty Day are, it doesn't even need rewriting except to change Galveston to New Orleans and, maybe, change The trumpets gave them warning to No trumpets gave them warning...

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 03:53 PM

Another tune to steal, with most of the lyrics intact, is Mighty Day, about the Galveston hurricane. Great song, that, pity it's so topical...

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 03:52 PM

Oh, foolesrtoupe, I was all ready to be offended, *BG*!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Louisiana 2005
From:
Date: 06 Sep 05 - 03:13 PM

Louisiana 2005
        (James van Pelt)
        based on
        Louisiana 1927
        (Randy Newman)

What has happened down there, is Katrina came,
Category Five from the south, and it started to rain
It rained and blew so hard that the levee gave in,
Eight feet of water in the streets of New Orleans.

The lake flowed in for days, the water rose all night,
Some people got lost in the flood, bodies floatin', such a terrible sight;
Poor folk abandoned in the city, like they couldn't be seen,
Eight feet of water in the streets of New Orleans.

Louisiana, Louisiana,
They tried to wash you away, they tried to wash you away.
Oh Louisiana, Louisiana,
They tried to wash you away, they tried to wash you away.

President Bush, he flew over in Air Force One,
Came down and hugged a few kids and took off again.
President say "Sorry I'm late, I'll send help,, you'll see,"
"Gonna shoot all the looters, this'll make us all stronger, ain't it great to be free."

Louisiana, Louisiana,
They're trying to wash you away, they're trying to wash you away.
New Orleans, Louisiana,
Gonna come back some day, gonna come back some day.
Gonna come back some day, gonna come back some day.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: SharonA
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 10:28 PM

Back to the subject of this thread (writing songs, or parodies of songs, about this inundation)...

To the tune of "Battle of New Orleans":

In Twenty-Oh-Five, Katrina took a trip
From Florida by water to the mighty Mississip'.
She took a little spin and then she took a few careens
And she looked and set her eye upon the town of New Orleans.

We cried our lungs out; Katrina kept a-comin'
A higher category than she was a while ago.
We cried once more and we began to runnin'
Up the Mississippi from the Gulf of Mexico.

(more to come)

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 09:46 PM

It's now said that the reason for the looting in Baghdad straight after the war is now clear: never blame on malice what can be properly attributed to stupidity and incompetence. Also the reason for Bush's post 911 behaviour is also clear - you can't wage an anti-terrorist war on God!

It came out here that some aussies flew to NO after the evacuation notice - the airlines didn't bother to tell them - they were backpackers - not reading papers or watching TV. Also some fuss over the fact that the US wouldn't let any diplomats in - like a 3rd world dicta tot! It was journalists that rescued many aussies!!! Aussie & British diplomats let in today though.

I am sure that there must be many old songs about past inundations & storms there.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Genie
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 09:19 PM

For inspiration, here's Randy Newman's song "Louisiana 1927" -

http://www.lyricsdepot.com/randy_newman/louisiana-1927.html

Lyrics:
What has happened down here is the wind have changed,
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain.
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time.
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

The river rose all day, the river rose all night.
Some people got lost in the flood,
Some people got away all right.
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline.

CHORUS
Louisiana, Louisiana,
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away

President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand.
The President say, "Little fat man isn't it a shame what the river has
done
To this poor cracker's land."

CHORUS

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 05:10 PM

maybe it is more to do with being poor than black but it looks mighty suspicious from the Tv we are seeing in the uk.

Did you see the debris flying
did you see the levy break
overhead the man was flying
as he surveyed the stinking lake
on the rooftops and the bridges
the people cried the news
New orleans is dieing
Now the whole world has the........

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: mg
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 04:07 PM

Good start to the song..I especially like I'm your latest storm.

Isn't there a song called Katrina, Katrina..???


I think the incompetence here is above and beyond racial considerations. I am sure when I need to be rescued from the tsunami that things will not be much better....

mg

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Mickey191
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 12:11 PM

Thanks Ron.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 10:18 PM

Mickey191, I did not see the special, but it sounds like you are describing Randy Newman's song - Louisiana 1927

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Mickey191
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 10:03 PM

Hi Folks, Can anyone tell me about the song Aaron Neville sang last night wrapping up NBC show-Streets of Evangeline- about another flood in La.-

Also--- can anyone explain Neville's voice? It is fascinating & strange. Is the style original with him? Thanks.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 11:53 AM

There is another pre existing and very relevant song here which I believe was written for a competition to write a song about an actual event.
Giok

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,guest
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 09:52 AM

Try Bill Staines' "Louisiana Storm." With a little tinkering, we could have the winner already!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 04:17 AM

Mississippi river done stole my house
Left me tired and hungry, poorer than a mouse
Katrina she hit New Orleans,my what a mighty storm
And when that storm was over, well the levee done gone.

[Duncan and Brady]

or

Katrina Katrina oh what a mighty storm
Katrina Katrina now my home has gone
They'll be talkin' 'bout Katrina
All the whole year long.

[Corinna Corrina]

Giok

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:38 AM

As far as I'm concerned, we don't all need to be working on the exact same song...

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:34 AM

BTW
Didnt realise we were stealing the tune so mine is wrong obviously.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 02:31 AM

Did you see the children crying
did you see them on the news
all aroung the dead were laying
while the newsmen gave their veiws
And the sun was brightly shining
on the starving and confused
people of New Orleans
Now the whole world has the........


Funny how most of the victims left in the city were black isnt it?
Cant imagine them being left alone for quite so long if they were white or wealthy,can you?

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 12:49 AM

OOPS! meant withOUT wanting to offend!

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 03 Sep 05 - 12:40 AM

Taking into account that Folk Music has taken note of current events of the time for social (and political) comment, it only seems natural that Katrina should be the subject of our interest. It will, after all cost somewhere between one to two hundred billion US$ in its effects.

Having discovered The Flying Folk Army, I was intrigued that a few of their songs on their site songs page seemed very close, or at least being nudged in an appropriate direction.

With wanting to offend Mrr above, I dont feel that that song has teh intensity to reflect Katrina sufficently for me.

Their song 'Hasting Away' (yes, I do get the original references!) seems a close starting point. 'Uncle Sam' has some political refernce, although it was orignally aimed at the Iraq 'excursion'. And 'Gingerbread Man' has a few refernces worth 'folk-borrowing'.

Don't miss 'I wanna be an engineer' - not for this thread, but it's a good social comment song.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:36 PM

Thanks for drawing my attention to it GUEST!

Working on some more verses now.

Subject: RE: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 09:31 PM

I am heartened by the fact that this abomination has been ignored.

Subject: Song Challenge: Killer of New Orleans
From: GUEST,Mrr
Date: 02 Sep 05 - 10:16 AM

First verse and chorus - please continue; I am keeping as close to the original as I can.

Katrina killed the City of New Orleans,
People fled by car and bus and rail
Roads were full of scared and hungry riders
Leaving back possessions, homes and mail
All along their northbound odyssey
The water followed hungrily
Flooding into houses, farms and fields
Gone are all the well-known names,
Refugees are stuck behind
And the graveyards are flooding into the fields.

CHORUS:
Good morning America how are you?
Don't you know me I'm your latest storm,
I have eaten up The City of New Orleans,
I'll be gone five hundred miles from the damage done.