2003 Mango Production
Reggae Lyrics
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Water's gonna overflow,
Swamp's gonna rise,
No boat's gonna row.
Now, you can train on down
To Williams Point,
You can bust your feet,
You can rock this joint.
But oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
You're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
Now, don't you try an' move me,
You're just gonna lose.
There's a crash on the levee
And, mama, you've been refused.
Well, it's sugar for sugar
And salt for salt,
If you go down in the flood,
It's gonna be your own fault.
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
You're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
Well, that high tide's risin',
Mama, don't you let me down.
Pack up your suitcase,
Mama, don't you make a sound.
Now, it's king for king,
Queen for queen,
It's gonna be the meanest flood
That anybody's seen.
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
Yes, you're gonna have to find yourself
Another best friend, somehow.
The lyrics to "Crash on the Levee" by Reggae carry a stark warning about the upcoming flood that will devastate everything in its path. The opening verse makes it clear that the situation is dire as the levee is about to crash, and the swamp will rise, making it impossible to navigate. The imagery used throughout the song creates a sense of urgency as the listener feels the impending danger.
As the song continues, Reggae describes how someone can try to escape by traveling to Williams Point, but without a boat, it will be futile. The lyrics are a warning that no one will be able to escape the impending disaster, regardless of how hard they try. The chorus serves as a reminder that everyone will be affected, and you will need to find a way to survive without your "best friend."
The third verse of the song is the most profound as Reggae states that each person is responsible for their own fate. If you go down in the flood, it will be your own fault, and you will need to find a new "best friend." The final verse serves as a plea for the mother not to give up and to pack up their belongings in silence. It's a reminder that the impending disaster could be catastrophic, but there is still time to try and salvage what they can and survive.
Line by Line Meaning
Crash on the levee, mama,
A powerful event is happening, mom,
Water's gonna overflow,
Water is about to flood,
Swamp's gonna rise,
The swamp will also flood,
No boat's gonna row.
There won't be any boats to row in the water,
Now, you can train on down
You could take the train down
To Williams Point,
To a certain location called Williams Point,
You can bust your feet,
You can walk and tire your feet,
You can rock this joint.
You can have fun here,
But oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
Mom, won't you miss me, your best friend?
You're gonna have to find yourself
You will need to discover
Another best friend, somehow.
Another best friend somehow, maybe by making new relationships.
Now, don't you try an' move me,
Do not attempt to move me
You're just gonna lose.
You are going to lose that game,
There's a crash on the levee
There's a big accident on the levee,
And, mama, you've been refused.
And, mom, you've been denied entry,
Well, it's sugar for sugar
It is equal trade
And salt for salt,
And an eye for an eye
If you go down in the flood,
If you get caught in the flood,
It's gonna be your own fault.
It is your mistake,
Well, that high tide's risin',
The high tide is rising,
Mama, don't you let me down.
Mom, don't disappoint me,
Pack up your suitcase,
Pack your bags,
Mama, don't you make a sound.
Mom, don't make a noise,
Now, it's king for king,
Now it's every man for himself,
Queen for queen,
And every woman for herself,
It's gonna be the meanest flood
It's going to be the most aggressive flood
That anybody's seen.
That anyone has seen.
Oh mama, ain't you gonna miss your best friend now?
Mom, won't you miss me, your best friend?
Yes, you're gonna have to find yourself
Yes, you're going to have to find someone else
Another best friend, somehow.
Another best friend somehow, maybe by making new relationships.
Contributed by Daniel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.