Fifteen years ago this week I published my first Twangville post. From then until now, the experience has been an absolute joy.
I’m privileged to have developed so many tremendous friendships along the way, from the Twangville posse to the countless PR and industry professionals to, of course, the talented artists who continue to inspire with their talents.
Equally important to me has been the opportunity to share – and celebrate – so much music and artistry. Today, as much as ever, music helps us process and understand the world in which we live even as it provides moments of pleasure and refuge.
That first post was meaningful as it was a response to a national tragedy – the devastation of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina and the atrocious, demoralizing government response. My post was a simple and deliberate share of the lyrics to Randy Newman’s poignant and, unfortunately, again relevant account of the catastrophic Louisiana flood of 1927.Â
Today I celebrate my milestone and acknowledge an American tragedy by sharing this video of Newman performing the song, minus the first verse, in New Orleans to honor the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Â
What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and it 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 alright
The river have busted through clear down to Plaquemines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ 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 crackers land.â€
Louisiana, Louisiana
They’re tryin’ 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
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
They’re tryin’ to wash us away
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.