As of June 2006, Dread Zeppelin is touring sparingly but still releasing new material.
When The Levee Breaks
Dread Zeppelin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it keeps on raining levee's going to break
When the levee breaks have no place to stay
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
Got what it takes to make a Mountain Man leave his home
Don't it make you feel bad?
When you're trying to find your way home you don't know which way to go?
When you're going down south and there's no work to do
And you're going on to Chicago
Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to go
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
Thinking about my baby and my happy home
Going - going to Chicago
Going to Chicago
Sorry, but I can't take you
Going down - going down, now
Going down - going down, now
Going down
Going down
Going down
Going down
Going down - going down, now
Going down - going down, now
Going down - going down, now
Going down
Going dow-, dow-, dow-, dow-, down, now
The lyrics of Dread Zeppelin's "When The Levee Breaks" speak of a flood caused by nonstop rain that threatens to break the levee. The singer of the song has no place to stay if the levee breaks, which could lead to devastating consequences. The "mean old levee" has taught them to "weep and moan", which hints at the pain and trauma that the levee has caused in the past - this could be a reference to the Mississippi River Flood of 1927 that caused widespread damage and affected over 700,000 people. The song suggests that the only direction left to take is to head towards Chicago, but there's no work to do there either.
The chorus of the song repeatedly notes the inevitability of the levee breaking and the helplessness of people who are caught in its path. This sense of doom is made more poignant by the verses that describe how the singer sat on the levee all last night, moaning and crying about their lost home and loved ones. The levee serves as a metaphor for the struggles of individuals who face obstacles in their way, whether it be natural disasters or systemic oppression. The song speaks to the theme of resilience in the face of adversity, with the singer heading towards Chicago despite the challenges that may await them there.
Line by Line Meaning
If it keeps on raining levee's going to break
If the constant rain continues, the levee is bound to collapse
When the levee breaks have no place to stay
In the event of the levee breaking, there will be no shelter
Mean old levee taught me to weep and moan
The constant fear of the levee breaking has brought on sadness and despair
Got what it takes to make a Mountain Man leave his home
The potential danger of the levee breaking is enough to make even the bravest person evacuate their home
Don't it make you feel bad?
Isn't it unsettling?
When you're trying to find your way home you don't know which way to go?
Under these circumstances, it is hard to navigate
When you're going down south and there's no work to do
If there is no work available in the south
And you're going on to Chicago
And you're heading to the city of Chicago
Crying won't help you, praying won't do you no good
Neither crying nor praying will be of any use in the face of this disaster
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to go
In case the levee breaks, you must evacuate
All last night sat on the levee and moaned
Sat on the levee and cried all night long
Thinking about my baby and my happy home
Reflecting on my loved ones and my peaceful life
Going - going to Chicago
Venturing to Chicago
Sorry, but I can't take you
Unfortunately, you cannot come with me
Going down - going down, now
Heading towards a downfall, rapidly approaching
Going down
Deteriorating rapidly
Going down - going down, now
Sinking quickly, rapidly approaching the inevitable
Going down - going down, now
Deteriorating rapidly and heading towards a downfall
Going down - going down, now
Experiencing a rapid decline, sinking deep
Going down
Going deeper into the abyss
Writer(s): James Patrick, Joe Mccoy, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, Robert Plant
Contributed by Lillian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.