Bonus Tracks
By Memphis Minnie
[Female Vocals]
[Backing Vocals]
[Intro]
[Break]
[Verse 1]
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay
[Verse 2]
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Thinkin’ ’bout my baby and my happy home
[Bridge]
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
If it keeps on rainin’, levee’s goin’ to break
And all these people have no place to stay
[Break]
[Chorus]
Now look here mama what am I to do
Now look here mama what am I to do
I ain’t got nobody to tell my troubles to
I works on the levee mama both night and day
I works on the levee mama both night and day
I ain’t got nobody, keep the water away
[Verse 3]
Oh cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do no good
Oh cryin’ won’t help you, prayin’ won’t do no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose
[Chorus]
I works on the levee, mama both night and day
I works on the levee, mama both night and day
I works so hard, to keep the water away
I had a woman, she wouldn’t do for me
I had a woman, she wouldn’t do for me
I’m goin’ back to my used to be
[Break]
[Outro]
I’s a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
I’s a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home
[End]
[Silence]
ABOUT THE SONG AND SCIENCE
When blues musical duo Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie composed “When the Levee Breaks,” the memory of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 was still fresh in people’s minds. This devastating flood submerged 26,000 square miles of the Mississippi Delta, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. The event inspired numerous blues songs, including “Backwater Blues” by Bessie Smith (1927) and “Mississippi Heavy Water Blues” by Barbecue Bob (1928).
Ethel Douglas, Minnie’s sister-in-law, recounted that Minnie was residing with her family near Walls, Mississippi, when the levee broke in 1927. The poignant lyrics of “When the Levee Breaks” depict the personal tragedy endured by a man who lost his home and family in the flood. However, biographers also interpret the song as a testament to resilience and renewal amidst adversity.
Climate change is impacting the Mississippi Delta in several ways:
- Sea Level Rise: The Mississippi Delta is already experiencing the effects of sea level rise, which is exacerbating coastal erosion and land loss. As sea levels continue to rise due to global warming, low-lying areas of the delta are becoming increasingly vulnerable to inundation and saltwater intrusion, threatening freshwater resources, ecosystems, and communities.
- Increased Flooding: Climate change is contributing to more frequent and intense rainfall events, leading to increased flooding in the Mississippi Delta. This flooding can overwhelm levees and other flood control infrastructure, exacerbating erosion and land loss while posing risks to human safety and livelihoods.
- Saltwater Intrusion: Rising sea levels and reduced freshwater flow from upstream are causing saltwater to intrude further inland in the Mississippi Delta. This saltwater intrusion threatens the availability of freshwater for drinking, agriculture, and industry, as well as the health of freshwater ecosystems and wetlands.
- Loss of Habitat: Climate change is altering habitat conditions in the Mississippi Delta, affecting wildlife populations and biodiversity. Sea level rise, increased flooding, and saltwater intrusion are causing the loss of crucial habitat types such as marshes, swamps, and estuaries, which support diverse plant and animal species.
- Impacts on Agriculture: The Mississippi Delta is a major agricultural region, producing crops such as cotton, soybeans, rice, and corn. Climate change is posing challenges to agriculture in the delta by increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, reducing crop yields, and altering growing conditions. Farmers are facing greater uncertainty and risks due to changes in temperature, precipitation patterns, and pest pressures.
Overall, climate change is posing significant challenges to the Mississippi Delta, threatening its natural ecosystems, communities, and economy. Addressing these impacts will require coordinated efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to changing conditions, and protect vulnerable areas and populations.