In 1927, the great Bessie Smith sang "Back Water Blues," and it was the

[Skidmore]

year that the Mississippi River spilled over its banks in a devastating flood. The deluge was so great that the water was pushed back upstream and the Yazoo River flowed backwards. The scope of the destruction and the suffering of the people, particularly the poor, was great.

The flood of 2011 may equal it in impact. Suffering does not change because technology or resources improve. It has been heartening to see people evacuate ahead of the waters this time but lives will still need to be rebuilt. Do what you are able to do for the peoples of the great river.


http://blueslyrics.tripod.com/lyrics/bessie_smith/backwater_blues_version_1.htm

[GoCubsGo]

1. Randy Newman also wrote a song about it.

"Louisiana 1927".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGs2iLoDUYE

I'm glad people are able to get out this time, but it angers and saddens me that nobody learned from the 1927 flood--or every other big flood, for that matter. Floodplains are called "floodplains" for a reason. It's well past time to do something about preventing people from building homes and cities within them. All of this destruction could have been avoided had we done that.

[SoCalDem]

4. I concur

Humans always try to fight nature, but in the end, nature always has the last say.

I know that commerce will always happen near bodies of water, but I cannot help but think how much money and how many lives could be saved if there were "non-building" areas extending to the biggest flood known,,,on all rivers..and then let the rivers BE rivers, and flood when they need to.

Actually, the insurance companies could have an effect if they flat out refused to issue insurance for buildings in areas that are within the footprint of the largest known flood....and the fed flood insurance should also be for rebuilding OUTSIDE that same perimeter.

I would like to see the same thing out here when it comes to wildfires in canyons. I know it's "lovely" to live in a home in the wilds, perched on a hillside, but some of these people have been burned out 5-6 times, and had their homes replaced every time. I always remember an interview with a woman who was watching her house burn down.. Her comments were odd to say the least.."It's all replaceable..we LOVE it here, and we'll rebuild again as soon as we get the insurance money..this will be our 6th time"..

[dipsydoodle]

2. Another was

Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie's When the Levee Breaks recorded in 1929.

Unfortunately YouTube delete it every time someone loads it. You might be able to view it here ;
http://www.last.fm/search?q=when+the+levee+breaks&from=ac that blocks in the UK.

Alternatively it can just be listed to : http://www.we7.com/#/song/Memphis-Minnie--Kansas-Joe/When-The-Levee-Breaks+

Please note I did not post the joke Led Zep cover.

[hobbit709]

3. Still here on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6C_5wxkuAQ

[dipsydoodle]

5. That blocks in the UK too.

:shrug:

It says "This video contains content from SME, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.
Sorry about that."

Thanks anyway. Hope you enjoyed it. I've got all of Minnie's stuff on CD.

:hi:

[hobbit709]

6. I've got about 3Gb worth of old blues .mp3's

Including a lot of names most people never heard of.

[Skidmore]

7. I'm so jealous.

[Javaman]

8. I have a huge collection of her work...

Amazing stuff.

[Skidmore]

9. My mother would make us sit down and be quiet whenever

one of her songs came on the radio. The other singer she did this for was Mahalia Jackson. Love both of these great ladies.