Every now and then, a friend and fellow activist sends an e-mail around titled “Another Reason To Be Politically Active”. It always contains an account of some new outrage from the neocons and their horribly failed administration. He knows it will put enough fire in our bellies to gather enough energy to rise up and fight some more.
One such travesty that should simmer in our hearts forever is the drowning of New Orleans. This morning, I happened upon this haunting requiem from John Stewart, formerly of the Kingston Trio and NMSherwin.
Here is my reason for today to remain politically active. Many thanks to Nikki for the video.
Title: New Orleans
Songwriter: John Stewart and Buffy Ford
Copyright: © John Stewart, All Rights Reserved
Recording: The Day the River Sang (Appleseed Records, APR CD, 2006)
Lyrics:I never got to see New Orleans
Or hear her mournful sound
Hear that singing through the doorways
The tapping on the ground
Dancing feet on Bourbon Street
The jazz, the blues, the beat
I never got to see New Orleans
Or feel the Delta heatYeah, I never got to see New Orleans
The parade on Easy Street
When Mardi Gras was swingin’
To the Dixieland retreat
Voodoo Alley, sweet King Cake
Confetti rain, for heaven’s sakes
I never got to see New Orleans
Or feel the Delta heatAnd her waters may be rising
But Orleans is still alive and
Forever she will sing to me
The lullabies of used to be
Will I ever see New Orleans
And hear those melodies?I never got to see New Orleans
Or the Gulf of Mexico
And hear the old piano man
Play the blues of long ago
And feel the simmer, taste the sweets
And hear the hum on Canal Street
Will I ever see New Orleans
And feel the Delta heat?I never got to see New Orleans
Ride the river to the sea
Hear the muse of Louisiana
Sing her heart to me
Fats and Louis and Dixieland
She is the river, she is the land
But I never got to see New Orleans
Or hold her in my hand
Thanks for this S. So good to hear from ya. Awesome words! Yes sometimes we do need to get our butts active. I too tend to get down and forget to be active. Anyhow it needs to be said often…Glad you reminded us…not only is the war important but other things are as well.
My best to the Mrs. hugs…
Hi Brenda! Good to see you here. Blueneck, I know you’re lurking, so hi to you too;-)
I was pretty down this morning after putting a lot of effort into a “meet & greet” event yesterday, because we didn’t get nearly as many visitors as we had hoped. Then I happened to catch this video at YouTube and you know the rest. Doesn’t matter that we are tired or discouraged. We need to keep up the fight for just a little longer.
Hope all is well down in your home places. Hugs from both of us.
HI ID!
You caught me! I’m running around accomplishing things and don’t have much time to leave a trail of comments, but rest assured that I am thinking of you and Mrs. ID fondly and sending ya’ll good vibes and best wishes frequently!
You, too, Brenda!
Thanks for this, Indiana. I think about you all often, though I haven’t met you. My family hails from one of those small towns in SW Indiana, back about three generations and earlier. If I were closer, I’d drive down and help. It’s knowing of true grass roots citizen activism like yours that gives me optimism about this country.
Hi Kidspeak, I’m off to a county commissioners’ meeting this morning to keep an eye on ’em. We’ve had an endless stream of troubles ever since we lost our majority in 2004. Many localities are a microcosmic example to some degree of what is happening on the national level.
Wish Mrs. Dem and I could make the Chicago meetup, but there is much to do here before Nov. 7th:-(
I’ll give Andi and JimF my proxy for the meeting.