Lyrics to "Hurricane Angel"

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KarenZ
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Lyrics to "Hurricane Angel"

Postby KarenZ » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:32 pm

Folks,

It took a good 5 or 6 listens to get the lyrics down (a nasty job, but somebody's gotta do it) ;) but here's what I heard on the video from the Towne Crier. I suspect the lyrics will change a bit since the song is so new. Thanks again to Simon for getting it on video! :)

KarenZ

Edited 3-21-08 with revised lyrics.

The Day the Levee Broke

On the day that the levee broke
The water did rise and the flowers did choke
I sat in my living room, took one last toke
Then I watched it all drift away
My credit card’s ringing up at 30%
There’s a man in India wond’ring where the money went
But I can’t pay

So I sat on my roof in Lake Pontchartrain
Singing woe to my children, singing woe to the rain
A stranger came by – I never caught his name
Said he’s rowing to the Rio Grande
Air Force One – a blue streak in the sky
Mr. President, you can afford to lie
Cause I can’t afford to pay

[Chorus]
Hurricane Angel
I'm lifting my eyes over Baton Rouge
Lift up your wings – let me hear your voice singing
Can you turn these black skies to blue again
Oh, I’m laying on the floor of a trailer at night
With sixteen refugees waiting on the daylight
But I still can’t pay

Caught a flat-bed Ford up to Baton Rouge
Four worn out souls and one old corkscrew
You can drown New Orleans but you can’t drown the blues
So bartender, just pour away
Exxon’s having one helluva year
Three bucks a gallon, man they’re making it clear
That I can’t pay

[Repeat chorus or piano interlude]

Lord, Lord, we haven’t spoken in many a day
I got myself in trouble downin the Ninth Ward
Thought I’d send a prayer your way
On my window sill’s a stack of insurance bills
There’s a man in Delaware who says I can't have the pills
Until I can pay

[Repeat chorus]

Somebody should pay....

On the day that the levee broke
The water did rise and the flowers did choke
I sat in my living room, took one last toke
Then I watched it all drift away
Last edited by KarenZ on Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:58 am, edited 5 times in total.
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

paddyinthepub
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Postby paddyinthepub » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:44 pm

8) 8) 8) 8)
8)
8)
8) 8) 8) 8)
8)
8)
8) 8) 8) 8)



8) 8) 8) 8)
8) :wink: :wink: 8)
8) :wink: :wink: 8)
8) 8) 8) 8)
8)
8)
8)
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

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KarenZ
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Postby KarenZ » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:55 pm

Holy Moly. That took some doing! :)

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

paddyinthepub
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Postby paddyinthepub » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:07 pm

Somebody had to do it!!! :wink: It was done in the spirit of.....

"Roll down your window, brother, shout out my name"
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

wendy
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Postby wendy » Tue Mar 04, 2008 12:54 pm

EXCELLENT!
Thank, Karen! I'm glad to have those to read and study. There's a lot in there to digest, I think. (a hearty meal 8) )
-wendy

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Postby paddyinthepub » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:58 pm

Quick trivia..

Who can name another popular song with "flat-bed Ford" in the lyrics?

It's not lost on me that any good songwriter would want to write a song someday makin use of that wonderful lyric from musical days gone by.

Ellis, you did it, man. You found a song where it fit.

8)
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

wendy
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Postby wendy » Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:10 am

It's a girl, my Lord,
in a flat bed Ford
slowin' down to take a look at me...


is that what you're thinking, Paddy? :wink:
-wendy

paddyinthepub
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Postby paddyinthepub » Thu Mar 06, 2008 8:35 am

Wendy...that's the one. :D

I always enjoyed hearing the ever so slight change of lyrics between the Eagles version of "Take it Easy" and Jackson Browne's version of the song. I do believe the song was co-written by JB and one or two members of the Eagles.

Jackson's version was recorded first I think, and the mode of transportation was slightly different.

"There's a girl my lord in an old buckboard" which would have been a type of horse drawn wagon I think.

The Eagles gave the mode of transportation considerably more horsepower.

"There's a girl my lord in a flat-bed Ford"

I might have some of the facts or lyrics wrong......but have no fear, we have a couple of new members here on the board (Annie and Elle) that'll have my back on all things Jackson Browne. :D
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

annieb
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Postby annieb » Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:07 am

Ok, you said the "J" name!! I must chime in!! :)

Paddy, I never heard the lyric 'old buck-board'? It's not on Jackson's version. I'll have to research that.

Jackson talks often in concert about writing this song with Glen Frey. And how there are versions of this song all over the world. Last time I saw him he was working on finding the cantonese version. He says that in different countries they change the lyrics to be more topical to the region.
His favorite being the Spanish version.......In the verse where he says 'I'm looking for a lover who won't blow my cover', they changed it to 'I'm looking for a lover who's not religious, not dangerous and who will eat me like a lobster in pink sauce!' Those saucy Spaniards!! :wink: :lol: 8)

I hope I can say that on this board..... :?: :oops:

Anyway, back to our original thread....thanks for the lyrics Karen!!

Annie

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Postby paddyinthepub » Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:26 am

Whether you can say that here on the board is up to Karen and co. but the fact is you said it and I am sitting here after reading it all the better for it. :D

Gosh...I thought you'd confirm my point on the lyrics...I can't have imagined that I don't think. Geez, if I'm wrong i may never post on a music forum again..... :lol:

Indeed, thanks for the lyrics Karen, and while I'd love to get to the bottom of the Jackson Browne and Eagles versions of Take it Easy.....

I'd love it as well to see a discussion of Hurricane Angel take flight. :D
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy

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KarenZ
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Postby KarenZ » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:43 pm

Folks,

Ellis said over the weekend that he thinks the title is going to be "The Day the Levee Broke" so I edited the title. :)

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

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KarenZ
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Postby KarenZ » Fri Mar 21, 2008 9:59 am

Folks,

Also edited the lyrics to reflect changes.....

KarenZ
"Some people are born to make great art and others are born to appreciate it. It is a kind of talent in itself, to be an audience, whether you are the spectator in the gallery or you are listening to the voice of the world's greatest soprano. Not everyone can be the artist. There have to be those who witness the art, who love and appreciate what they have been privileged to see." -- Ann Patchett in Bel Canto.

paddyinthepub
Posts: 3768
Joined: Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:44 pm
Location: Philadelphia

Postby paddyinthepub » Fri Mar 21, 2008 10:21 am

Karen

Love the new lyrics.......miss the old ones.

Any chance we could float both versions here. :wink:
"once we're inside, it's a carnival ride" ~ ellis paul
paddy


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