The Great Flood of '93

Story Behind The Song

The flood of 1993

Song Description

This song is an historical look at the Flood of 1993, complete with several statistics many folks don't know. At the end the song asks the question "Why" after such a disaster we would be so bold as to continue to build in areas that are clearly in the river's domain. 48% of the Missouri county I live in was under water at the height of the flood and yet new construction continues in this area at a fever pitch. I think maybe the river hasn't finished teaching us.

Song Length 3:53 Genre Folk - Traditional, Folk - General
Tempo Medium Slow (91 - 110) Lead Vocal Male Vocal
Mood Poignant, Tense Subject Disasters, Region
Language English Era 1990 - 1999

Lyrics

The Flood of ?93

Well the water fell down and the water rose up
Through the warmth of ?93
And it filled every space that was low in the ground
Despite dyke dam or levee
It splashed and it crashed and it crushed in its path
Every thing that the people knew
And it carried away like a child at play
Their dreams and their memories too.

Now the farmers had planted their crops in the soil
As the thunder started to peal
But their hope for a harvest was soon washed away
As the water covered their fields.
It spilled and then filled every space men had tilled
As though it had made up its mind
To make pristine what man had seen
As his legacy proud and fine

Along all the rivers throughout the Midwest
The towns were struck with fear
As the sandbags were filled while the levees gave way
And the water climbed ever near
It came and laid claim to space long ago drained
Shouting what gives you the right
To take what?s been mine for eons in time
You can?t have it without a fight.







And while the flood water ran over the earth
16000 square miles drowned
12 billion in damage the tally run up
And 48 people brought down
So wide was the tide that across side to side
7 miles it measured one day
And too many tears to be counted were shed
As it went along its way

And yet we still build in the river?s domain
Have we learned our lessons that well
Or are we too proud to admit our defeat
At the hands of this watery hell
In time we?ll define the great rivers last line
But as yet we?re too blind to see
What this patient disaster should teach us all
The Great flood of 93
The great flood of 93
The great flood of 93

Lyrics Warren J. Wagner Music Warren J. Wagner
Producer Warren J. Wagner Performance Warren J. Wagner

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