Louisiana 1927
Randy Newman Lyrics


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What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it start 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, clear down to Plaque mines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

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 came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a notepad in his hand
President say "little fat man, isn't it a shame?"
What the river has done to this poor cracker's 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

Overall Meaning

Randy Newman's song "Louisiana 1927" tells the story of the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, which caused unprecedented damage to the states along the river's path. The lyrics describe the changing winds and heavy rain that caused the water levels to rise, resulting in six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline. The river continued to rise all day and all night, causing some people to lose their lives while others were able to escape.


The chorus repeats the line "They're tryin' to wash us away," reflecting the despair and hopelessness felt by many who were affected by the disaster. Even President Coolidge's visit did little to ease the situation, as he only expressed sympathy without offering much assistance. The final line "They're tryin' to wash us away" is repeated four times, emphasizing the desperation of the situation and the feeling of being swept away by the catastrophic flood.


Overall, "Louisiana 1927" is a poignant reflection on a tragic historical event and the human toll it took. Newman's storytelling and musical composition create a powerful message that highlights the need for better disaster response and planning.


Line by Line Meaning

What has happened down here is the winds have changed
The weather has taken a turn for the worse


Clouds roll in from the north and it start to rain
The rain has begun to pour heavily due to the north wind


Rained real hard and rained for a real long time
The rain was very heavy and lasted for an extended period


Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline
The floods have reached up to six feet creating a waterlogged street in Evangeline


The river rose all day, the river rose all night
The river levels swelled and continued to rise for an entire day and night


Some people got lost in the flood
People were trapped and lost in the floodwaters


Some people got away alright
Some people managed to escape unharmed


The river have busted through, clear down to Plaque mines
The river overflowed and flooded all the way down to Plaque mines


Louisiana, Louisiana
Addressing the state of Louisiana


They're tyrin' to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away


They're tryin' to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away


President Coolidge came down in a railroad train
The President arrived in a train to assess the situation


With a little fat man with a notepad in his hand
Accompanied by an assistant with a notebook


President say "little fat man, isn't it a shame?"
The President expressed his sympathy for the damage caused


What the river has done to this poor cracker's land
The river has devastated the fertile land owned by the poor residents of Louisiana


They're trying to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away


They're trying to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away


They're trying to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away


They're trying to wash us away
The floods are a threat to wash them away




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RANDY NEWMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Edoardo Fittipaldi

What has happened down here is the winds have changed
Clouds roll in from the north and it start 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, clear down to Plaque mines
Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline

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 came down in a railroad train
With a little fat man with a notepad in his hand
President say…



All comments from YouTube:

roger thornton

I'm an old guy from Louisiana and have heard this song many times. I get emotional every time.

Philip Earl McG

Me too. My grandparents survived the flood. They lived in Berwick. This is an emotional song. As is Acadian Driftwood by The Band.

Ronnie Bishop

Me too.

fred houpt

this is typical of Newman's mastery of symphonic accompaniment. Such a simple tune and yet so deeply moving. A master of short, highly compressed stories that sometimes flow like a river or stream. Steeped in real history, Newman creates soundscapes that conjure a big story contained in a small scale. He has so few peers.

Larry Russell

So well explained. He is surely a composing genius.

Ken Cooper

A simple tune but, if you change a note, it just isn't right. Points to him spending hours perfecting it. Many have done this tune well, nobody has done it better.

Jeremiah Horrigan

Well & truly said. I'd say he has no peers.

wpl

Herbert Hoover led the relief efforts for the 27 flood. It helped him become president. Then the depression hit and Hoover had no real answer to the people hurt by it. No action was necessary. It would clear itself up. Those who were suffering got an empty hand. And still he was more qualified and fit for the office than our current president. One who stole a campaign poster slogan from Reagan and pretended he would help the forgotten. Who becomes president matters. There is no perfect person for the job but every 4 years there is a best person for the role. Our job as voters is to know who that is and get it right. Otherwise we suffer and the world suffers with us.

Jeremiah Horrigan

As your comment indicates, a knowledge of history and a sense of justice is all that's needed to describe the plight we're facing today. Hats off!

34 More Replies...

Ronnie Bishop

What a song, and what makes it even greater for me and for anyone that’s ever actually lived in Louisiana, it really hits home.

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