Louisiana 1927

What makes that ’27 flood so infamous is the fact that, in an effort to save the city where their profits were made, New Orleans’ businessmen spurred on the dynamiting of a levee to divert water to some of the poorer surrounding parishes. These parishes, and the lives of many who resided within them, were effectively destroyed by the ensuing rush of water.

After the damage is done, the final verse features a cameo appearance from President Calvin Coolidge, who surveys the carnage and makes a callous remark that shows little sympathy for all the human suffering around him. Echoes of that same presidential indifference were what many of President Bush’s critics sensed in his reaction to Katrina.

It all leads to one of the most heartbreaking refrains in all of popular music: “Louisiana, Louisiana/They’re tryin’ to wash us away.” “Louisiana 1927” by Randy Newman will always be brilliant. Let’s just hope it’s never again timely.

Note da :

Behind the Song: Randy Newman, “Louisiana 1927” - 1974

10 feb 2020