Well....it seems like I am surrounded by fire (14 going-over 400,000 evacuated-southern CA).
I'm looking at 12,000 records/cds and several thousand books, and realizing that if my home catches, its going to be an INFERNO!!
So...since I can't do much but wait, I decided to ask my fellow blues enthusiasts for your favorite blues about disaster-fires, floods, pestilence, famine, what have you got? Corrosion, I was anticipating your (and Conchobor's response). A heartfelt thanks for your thought on the situation. I seem to be safe for now. As far as the library-thanks also. I don't know if you saw my comments about the Mardi Gras Indians on my 1930s question, but I already put some material on cd for you. Of course, if you prefer not to breach the virtual divide, I completely understand-no obligation as I didn't have anything on cd and they won't go to waste..well, hopefully they won't :) Of course, "When The Levee Breaks", being raised a New Orleanian.
There used to be one sung in New Orleans clubs and parks by the older guys like Babe Stovall, a very sad cry of "Ohhhhh, did you hear about the burnin'?" but I have forgotten the title. I think it had to do with an attack, but was never sure and too young and afraid to ask.
Lightnin' Hopkins had that bittersweetly funny one about the stuttering boy who was trying to tell a man something, who then shouted Sing it out, boy! and the kid broke into a blues of "Your barn is burnin'/ Lawd, all your horses gonna die..." Don't know if I have the right lyrics there, it's been so long.
Fenton Robinson's "Texas Flood" is another, though I consider "Somebody Loan Me A Dime" to be much sadder.
I've heard a few that were blues that dealt with Noah's flood but I think were allegorical to Jim Crow, and then I think of Otis Spann's "It Must Have Been The Devil" where he sings "Well I heard a mighty rumblin'".
That's all I have for now, best wishes for your LIFE and I'll help getting your library back if things get worse. But first, my friend, Martin must live, ok?
Edit- no, I missed your Mardi Gras Indians comments and would love to see them. If you have old recordings, I certainly would love, love, love to hear them. I have the original Wild Magnolias from the 1970s somewhere and have The Wild Tchoupitoulas CD with Chief Bo Dollas being backed by the Meters; really nice funky blues chants.
I was under the weather a bit on Saturday, so I missed another great tradition of ritualized warfare, blues based. Jackson State and Grambling's marching bands take pride in being the best and at halftime have a competition fiercer than the football game.
Martin, since you're a historian, have you checked into the upcoming Great Delta Bear Affair we have here in the Magnolia State, honoring Holt Collier? He's the man whose actions led to the development of the Teddy Bear. A recently updated biography on him was published. No possession is worth your life. Not even the blues. So if at peril, get yourself out!
If there is time ...
Save the records!
Martin, keep us posted!
I can think of three off the top of my head about Hurricane Betsy that destroyed NOLA in the 1920's - When the Levee Breaks (as Corrosion pointed out). Backwater Blues by Bessie Smith. And another one by Lightning Hopkins I THINk that one is called "Hurricane Betsy".
And then there's the Blind Willie Johnson song about the titanic "God Moves on the Water"
I am remineded of hearing B.B. King say in an interview that he names ALL of his guitars "Lucielle". One day the hotel he was staying at caught fire and he ran back in to get his guitar Lucielle. The roof collapsed just after he got back out. Scared him so much that ever since he named all of his guitars "Lucielle" to remind him that he can ALWAYS get another guitar, but that there in only one B.B. natchez city burning comes to mind (don't know if it's a willie dixon or Howlin wolf original)
Tupelo by john lee hooker (lovely sad song with unbelievable integrety)
Texas flood by Stevie Ray Vaughn
That's about all that comes to mind. Hope you get a bit of the latter 2 so your house don't catch on fire. Hang tough and keep playing the blues (might be worth writing a song about your experience) terminator evacuation blues or something like that. Heres two about floods:
Stevie Ray Vaughn - Texas Flood
Savoy Brown - Flood In Houston
Save yourself and your family. Don't worry about possessions. John Lee Hooker
Burning Hell
The Motor City is BURNING |
