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about
In 2021, as Hurricane Ida approached New Orleans, and my friends who live there were contemplating whether or not to evacuate, this chorus popped into my head. It is a simple declaration that if our current class structures remain intact, the most important cultural center in the US will be destroyed in a matter of years or decades due to man made climate change. The verses point out the rich musical and cultural history of the city, its botanical wonders, and the reasons it is in such danger, both man made and natural.
Musically, the song starts with an american songbook - style verse, a nod to the birthplace of Jazz music, before kicking into a 70's Americana groove with bluesy piano swagger. For the instrumental section, I relished the opportunity to create a Jimmy Page meets Don Rich moment for the guitar solo, followed by a groovy and destructive piano excursion by Kai Welch, and capped off with Amy's anthemic fiddle lead.
lyrics
way down yonder in the land of dreams,
where Lord Jelly Roll syncopated
where the Spanish and the French and the Africans mingled,
but the Chittamacha antedated
like the moss covered vines and the tall sugar pines,
the second line makes you sway
but the way we been goin’ it won’t last too long,
and we will miss it every night and day
So let the rich men turn to paupers,
and the beggars to kings and queens
cause I don’t wanna live in a world where there ain’t no New Orleans
The Mississippi roamed free for 10,000 years,
so did the buffalo
The French built the levees to keep it out the Quarter,
so the Lower 9th is sinking like a stone
the river made the land a little while ago,
just a few thousand years
now if the banks of the river come up above the levee
I’ll be drowning in a sea of tears
Let the rich men turn to paupers,
and the beggars to kings and queens
cause I don’t wanna live in a world where there ain’t no New Orleans
Do you remember Betsy back in ’65, Camille in ’69
The gulf is getting higher and higher every year,
and the water’s getting warmer all the time
There was hurricane Ivan in 20 and 4, Katrina back in ’05
There’s another one coming and it won’t be long,
and you’ll be lucky if you make it out alive
Let the rich men turn to paupers,
and the beggars to kings and queens
cause I don’t wanna live in a world where there ain’t no New Orleans
The fat cats wanna go live on Mars,
leave the rest of the world behind
let the whole damn show going down
while the politicians squabble over nickels and dimes
Crying won’t help you, your thoughts are worthless,
praying won’t do you no good
When the Ponchatrain’s banks come up above the levee,
baby you got to move
Let the rich men turn to paupers,
and the beggars to kings and queens
cause I don’t wanna live in a world where there ain’t no New Orleans
Amy Alvey - vocals, fiddle
Mark Kilianski - vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitars
Miss Tess - Electric Bass
Sam Smith - Drums
Kai Welch - Rhodes, piano, percussion, synths, vocals
Produced by Kai Welch, Amy Alvey, and Mark Kilianski
Engineered by Kai Welch
Mastered by Matt Gerhard
Artwork by Alice Maule Design
Photo by Andy Wickstrom
Distributed by Free Dirt Records
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