If New Orleans is sinking, man, then I don't wanna swim

[sal_amanda]

my favorite city is under quite a bit of stress, but hardy partiers that they are, even in their darkest hour, i think they would appreciate the following tribute to them while they drink hurricanes at the bars in the French Quarter that stayed open for some misguided reason.

Here's the lyrics to "New Orleans is Sinking" by the Tragically Hip (sorry that this isn't the Killawhaletank version for those that know it):

Alright!

Bourbon blues on the street, loose and complete
Under skies all smoky blue green
I can't forsake a dixie dead shake
So we danced the sidewalk clean
My memory is muddy
What's this river that I'm in?
New Orleans is sinking man
And I don't wanna swim

Colonel Tom, what's wrong? what's going on?
You can't tie yourself up for a deal
He said, Hey north you're south shut your big mouth,
You gotta do what you feel is real
Ain't got no picture postcards, ain't got no souvenirs
My baby, she don't know me when I'm thinking bout those years

Pale as a light bulb hanging on a wire
Sucking up to someone just to stoke the fire
Picking out the highlights of the scenery
Saw a little cloud that looked a little like me

I had my hands in the river
My feet back up on the banks
Looked up to the lord above
And said, hey man thanks
Sometimes I fell so good, I gotta scream
She said Gordie baby I know exactly what you mean
She said, she said, I swear to god she said

My memory is muddy
What's this river that I'm in?
New Orleans is sinking man and I don't wanna swim

Swim!

Comments

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

what's the "the Killawhaletank version"?

[sal_amanda]

you mean to tell me you've never heard the live version where he starts spouting off about how he used to clean tanks at the aquarium and one of the killer whales took a shining to him and its mate bit his left arm off? totally irrelevent to the song, but oh so amusing.

[heywoodjabloski.livejournal.com]

Gordie spouting nonsense?
that never happens...

[sal_amanda]

oh, but this is one of the best of all time. it's gotten tons of airplay around here over the years. i'm surprised you never heard it. i've got a burned copy from the old napster days. i will have to make you listen to it next time you're home. it's classic.