In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Louisiana 1927
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The river rose all day, the river rose all night
Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright
The river have busted through, cleared down to Plaquemines
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
President Coolidge come down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
The President say: 'Little fat man, isn't it a shame'
'What the river has done to this poor crackers land?'
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Louisiana, Louisiana
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
They're tryin' to wash us away
Asleep at the Wheel's song Louisiana 1927 is a poignant account of the Great Mississippi Flood that happened in 1927, causing the river to swell and break through levees, leading to severe flooding throughout Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. The lyrics begin with describing the wind's change bringing clouds from the north and a heavy rain, which lasted for an extended period, leading to six feet of water flooding the streets. The river continued to rise and cause widespread destruction, with some people managing to escape while others were lost.
The lyrics touch upon the government's response to the disaster, with President Coolidge's visit, accompanied by a little fat man with a notepad, who expressed sympathy and empathy towards the victims but did nothing tangible to assist. The repeated lines, "They're trying to wash us away," provide a sense of despair and helplessness felt by the displaced and victimized individuals at that time. The song's last line adds emphasis to the flooding and its destructive impact, resulting in wiping away a community's history and its residents' homes.
Line by Line Meaning
What has happened down here is the wind have changed
The situation in Louisiana has changed.
Clouds roll in from the north and it started to rain
The weather got worse with clouds and heavy rainfall.
Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
The rain was very strong and continued for a long time.
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The streets of Evangeline were flooded with six feet of water.
The river rose all day, the river rose all night
The river water levels kept rising throughout the day and night.
Some people got lost in the flood, some people got away alright
Some people were affected by the flood while others were lucky to escape.
The river have busted through, cleared down to Plaquemines
The river broke through and cleared everything down to Plaquemines.
Louisiana, Louisiana
Referring to the US state of Louisiana.
They're tyrin' to wash us away
They are trying to flood us away.
President Coolidge come down in a railroad train
The US President, Coolidge, arrived by train.
With a little fat man with a note-pad in his hand
Accompanied by a chubby man with a notepad in his hand.
The President say: 'Little fat man, isn't it a shame'
The President comments that it is a pity.
'What the river has done to this poor crackers land?'
The President questions the damage caused by the river.
They're tryin' to wash us away
The repeated line emphasizes the ongoing flood situation affecting Louisiana.
They're tryin' to wash us away
The repeated line emphasizes the ongoing flood situation affecting Louisiana.
They're tryin' to wash us away
The repeated line emphasizes the ongoing flood situation affecting Louisiana.
They're tryin' to wash us away
The repeated line emphasizes the ongoing flood situation affecting Louisiana.
Writer(s): RANDY NEWMAN
Contributed by Alex V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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