If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stayWell all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Thinkin’ ’bout my baby and my happy homeIf it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
And all these people have no place to stayWhen The Levee Breaks — “Kansas” Joe McCoy (a/k/a/ Kansas Joe, Georgia Pine Boy, Hallelujah Joe)
At first we react from our own perspective, but my initial incredulity that anyone would choose not to evacuate soon gave way to the growing awareness that many people simply had no choice — no resources, no money, no transportation, and even worse, no place to go. Most of these people are poor — some, families with many children, others, elderly citizens all alone.
When the Levee Breaks was recorded in 1929. Back then flooding was feared by black field hands who lived in low-lying areas near the river, while the plantation owners lived safely on higher ground. In many ways, not much has changed.
Money is an immediate need, to be sure. But after we’ve searched our pockets and donated whatever we can, I hope we search our hearts to find a cure for the underlying problems that plague our society.