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Origin: Galveston Flood

22 Dec 99 - 10:05 PM (#153177)
Subject: Galveston Flood
From: Pete Curry ka2ttu@aol.com

Can anyone tell me the origin of the song about the Galveston Flood, variously titled "Mighty Day," "Mighty Storm" and "The Galveston Flood"? I've heard it by various folk revivalists (Bob Gibson, Tom Rush, Billy Faire, Chad Mitchell Trio, Golden Ring, etc.), but I would like to know who recorded it first and/or who brought it into the folk revival of the late '50s/early '60s. (In Sing Out they printed the Bob Gibson version, and it says he learned it from an "old jazz recording.")


23 Dec 99 - 12:03 AM (#153230)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: ddw

Pete, I just refreshed a thread I started on this some time ago. Check out Rich R's reply to me.

Sorry I couldn't just put you into the thread without refreshing it, but blue clicky things are beyond me.

Cheers, David

Click here


23 Dec 99 - 12:06 AM (#153233)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: JamesJimFolk

I'm familiar with the song and just looked it up in my old "Folk Singers Wordbook" from Oak Publications. They have printed the Bob Gibson version as well. The Copyright was in 1960, by Melody Trails, Inc. in New York.

Jim


23 Dec 99 - 12:07 AM (#153235)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: ddw

Sorry, Pete, I should have said see Rockaday Johnny's reply in that last post.


23 Dec 99 - 12:24 AM (#153245)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: _gargoyle

Smithsonian Magazine recently (Sept. 99) had an article on the flood....facinating reading....in its original context....Galveston Flood

A letter to the editor the following month had a family historical addition.

Smithsonian Magazine
November 1999
Letters

Galveston Hurricane

"For a While...It was Fun" by Stephen Fox reminded me of my grandmother's friend who struggled for hours against the roiling waves of Galveston's 1900 hurricane. Finally, someone pulled her from the flood and helped her to a still-standing house. She had no idea where her husband was. When the storm was over, my grandmother's friend and other women formed an assembly line of biscuit-makers. After hours of baking, she looked up and saw a buck-naked man, save his celluloid collar. It was moments before she recognized him as her husband.


23 Dec 99 - 12:33 AM (#153247)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: MarkS

Pete: Per liner notes on the new Tom Rush CD, first recorded at Darlington State Penetentiary in 1942 on a Library of Congress recording by The Reverend "Sin Killer" Griffen. I think it may go back further than that and I will try to get more details to add to the post. 73 MarkS


23 Dec 99 - 02:26 AM (#153277)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: Sourdough

I would guess that one reason that this tragedy, already of epic size, made such an impression on the national consciousness was that Galveston was one of the main ports of entry into the US for European immigrants so the port was very well known throught much of the country.

Sourdough


23 Dec 99 - 03:53 AM (#153303)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: bseed(charleskratz)

Good Gargoyle, here's a biscuit and a pat on the head...ouch!

--seed


23 Dec 99 - 01:09 PM (#153426)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: Pete Curry ka@ttu@aol.com

Thanks, everyone, especially ddw and MarkS (73 to you, too). I really appreciate the help. Sorry I missed the thread earlier this year. Happy Holidays!


23 Dec 99 - 01:31 PM (#153430)
Subject: RE: Galveston Flood
From: Áine

There have been several good books written about this disaster; but, my favorite one is 'A Weekend in September' by John Edward Weems, published by Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas 77843-4354, ISBN 0-89096-390-8.

I particularly like this book in that it follows individuals through the day and night of the storm and gives you a very good idea of the life and people of Galveston at the time.

-- Áine