Prone to downtime due to Keenan's other musical commitments, the band has featured a variety of musicians throughout alternating periods of activity and inactivity, and has changed line-ups on each album, leaving Keenan and Howerdel the only constant members. The original incarnation of the band included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Josh Freese on drums. Primus drummer Tim Alexander had briefly stood in as a drummer prior to Freese in the band's initial live shows; however, this was prior to releasing any material. Band collaborator and producer Danny Lohner and Marilyn Manson bassist Jeordie White were also members for a short period in the early 2000s. The band's current lineup features the Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, bassist Matt McJunkins, and drummer Jeff Friedl, the latter two also being contributors to the related Puscifer and Ashes Divide projects. Despite the varied cast and numerous lineup changes, the stylistic content of A Perfect Circle's songs has remained consistent with Howerdel as music composer, and Keenan writing lyrics and vocal melodies. The band's studio albums have been generally well received critically and commercially, with their first three studio albums selling 4 million copies collectively as of 2005.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Perfect_Circle
Studio albums
Mer de Noms (2000)
Thirteenth Step (2003)
Emotive (2004)
Eat the Elephant (2018)
When the Levee Breaks
A Perfect Circle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
Thinking about my baby and my happy home
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break
And all these people have no place to stay
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
Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good
Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose
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 going back to my used to be
It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home
"When The Levee Breaks" is a song originally recorded in 1929 by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie, but famously covered by Led Zeppelin in 1971. A Perfect Circle covered this song in 2004 with a more haunting sound. The song is about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 which had a devastating impact on the South. The "levee" in the song refers to the artificial embankments that were built to prevent the flooding of the Mississippi River. In the first verse of the song, the singer warns that if the rain continues to fall, the levees will break and the floodwaters will come in with nowhere to go.
In the second verse, the singer reflects on his situation and how he has spent his time sitting on the levee, thinking about his loved ones and his home. He expresses his worries for the people who will have no place to stay once the levees break. In the final verse, he acknowledges that there is nothing he can do to stop the flood and prevent his own losses. He has worked hard on the levee both day and night, but there is no one to help him keep the water away. He laments the fact that crying and praying won't help and that he must prepare himself for the inevitable loss that will come when the levee breaks.
This song has a powerful message of the loss and devastation that comes with natural disasters. The lyrics serve as a warning that even the most advanced engineering cannot prevent the full force of nature. The images of loss and despair serve as a reminder of the futility of human efforts in the face of nature's power.
Line by Line Meaning
If it keeps on raining, levee's going to break
Heavy rainfall will destroy the levee
And the water gonna come in, have no place to stay
Flood water will enter and displace inhabitants
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan
The singer worried and expressed his sorrow on the levee
Thinking about my baby and my happy home
The singer's thoughts were with his loved ones and his dwelling place
And all these people have no place to stay
Other individuals also have no refuge from the flood waters
Now look here mama what am I to do?
The singer seeks advice on how to deal with the impending disaster
I ain't got nobody to tell my troubles to
He has no one to discuss his worries with
I works on the levee mama both night and day
The singer works tirelessly to protect the levee from breaking
I ain't got nobody, keep the water away
He lacks the help required to protect the levee from collapse
Oh crying won't help you, praying won't do no good
Crying and praying are ineffectual in this situation
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to lose
There will be significant losses when the levee breaks
I works so hard, to keep the water away
The singer works arduously to prevent inundation
I had a woman, she wouldn't do for me
The singer's partner was indifferent when he needed her most
I'm going back to my used to be
The singer is returning to an old flame
It's a mean old levee, cause me to weep and moan
The singer is upset and unpleasantly surprised by the condition of the levee
Gonna leave my baby, and my happy home
The singer is compelled to flee his beloved and cherished dwelling
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILLY HOWERDEL, JAMES KEENAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Todd
If it keeps on raining, if it keeps on raining
The levee's going to break, the levee's going to break
If it keeps on raining, if it keeps on raining
The levee's going to break, the levee's going to break
If it keeps on raining, the levee's going to break
[Chorus]
When the levee breaks, when the levee breaks
When the levee breaks, you'll have no place to stay
[Verse 2]
We don't matter, we don't matter
Taught me how to weep and moan
Taught me how to weep and moan
We don't matter
Taught me how to weep and moan
[Chorus]
When the levee breaks, when the levee breaks
When the levee breaks, you'll have no place to stay
[Verse 3]
All last night, all last night
I sat on the levee and moan (Oh, crying won't help you)
I sat on the levee and moan
Praying won't do you no good (I sat on the levee and moan)
All last night
Oh, crying won't help you (I sat on the levee and moan)
Praying won't do you no good (I sat on the levee and moan)
[Chorus]
When the levee breaks, when the levee breaks
When the levee breaks, you'll have no place to stay
Jeremy Yates
Fishing Spots
Fish fishing
Butting heads
Brandishing victories
Flood high waters
Currents to give you something to fight about
Something you can't win over
Currents
Murky
Snapping wood
Going around looking for fish
Careful
Downstream
Gobble you up
Evelyn Ensor
Sounds, smells, feels & taste like rain. Maynard just touches all my senses with all his songs, especially this one.
Love Reconcile Redemptive AstroPhysics Theories
Tastes like feels to me.
Phillip Schmitt
I just saw a science article saying we can smell rain in the distance better than a shark can smell blood in water. Chew on that for while 😎👍🏻
Love Reconcile Redemptive AstroPhysics Theories
@Phillip Schmitt its sunny today if you must smell it also.
Gingko Bonobo
Pretty sure it's Billy Howerdel singing this one, but agreed this one touches deep.
βud Small
rain rain rainy rain...
Justice Pain
A Perfect Circle indeed, the covenant shall never be broken, to anyone who reads this hopefully you find wisdom and true love in your life, your not alone, we are all in one big room on this planet and life is our teacher.
Marklithikk
The answer to questions that seem to stop you are always closer then it appears.
Macenroe C
14 Years...time flies. This song hits me with the same impact it did the first time I heard it on my CD player.
When I was working by the North Pole, I would play this song on repeat, thinking about my wife and kids, and how I would be able to see them in 1 month.
Such an amazing melody.
Simply beautiful on all levels.
Phillip Rodarte
18 now