Leanin' On the Levees
.
12/27/2007
by Tom Flannery
copyright 2007 (BMI)

Born and raised in the lower 9th 
and then Katrina came along
left me standing on the overpass
with just spit and a song
don't know why I'm the enemy
just want to be left alone
not ankle deep in quicksand
calling a FEMA trailer home

My brother shipped to Texas
my sister's she's out west
grandma was at St. Rita's
just waiting on what come next
my mother couldn't take it
said "son it's time to die"
the water took her breath away
she never even said goodbye

so tonight I'm leaning on the levees
like a stranger being sold
on the idea that he's already starting to grow old
leaning on the levees
wanna push right on through
and see what the brokenhearted they can do

Came back about a year ago
wondering what I'd find
pick through the same debris
that I'd left behind
it was like writing on the wall
saying boy we don't want you here
like the X's on the doorways
the message was loud and clear

But once a place gets in the veins
it's like the beat of Congo square
the heart pumping along with the drums
that the ghosts all bang down there
I choose to stay inside the bowl
and the world can go to hell
you know nothing of New Orleans
so I bid you all farewell

so tonight I'm leaning on the levees
and thinking come what may
there's nothing inside my head
that the water can wash away
tonight I'm leaning on the levees
another storm is coming through
you can point yourself to Baton Rouge
I know just what I'll do

My family turned to driftwood
just numbers on a wall
where the rich men they still gather
just like before the fall
sometimes my legs will tremble
and I go nearly blind
thinking of what was lost
and what was left behind

so tonight I'm leaning on the levees
stay warm and dry my friend
pay no attention to those memories
floating up 'round the bend
I'm leaning on the levees
with my hat in my hands
believe me when I tell you
that I once had other plans