Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie - When The Levee Breaks

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post features information about and a sound file of Blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Memphis Minnie singing "When The Levee Breaks. The lyrics of that song as sung by Memphis Minnie are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment an aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SONG "WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS"
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_the_Levee_Breaks

"When the Levee Breaks" is a blues song written and first recorded by husband and wife Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The song is in reaction to the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

It was re-worked by English rock group Led Zeppelin as the last song on their fourth album, released in 1971. The lyrics in Led Zeppelin's version, credited to Memphis Minnie and the individual members of Led Zeppelin, were partially based on the original recording. Many other artists have also recorded versions of the song or played it live.

FEATURED SONG

Memphis Minnie - When the Levee Breaks [1929]



Machinegunhalligan, Uploaded on Jul 14, 2011

Memphis Minnie (June 3, 1897 -- August 6, 1973) was an American blues guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. She was the only female blues artist considered a match to male contemporaries as both a singer and an instrumentalist. She was active from the 1920s to the 1950s.

LYRICS: WHEN THE LEVEE BREAKS
(Kansas Joe McCoy, Memphis Minnie)

If it keeps on rainin' levee's goin' to break.
If it keeps on rainin' levee's goin' to break.
Then the water gonna come in, and I'll have no place to stay.

Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan.
Well all last night I sat on the levee and moan.
Thinkin' 'bout my baby and my happy home.

If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break.
If it keeps on rainin', levee's goin' to break.
And all these people have no place to stay.

Now look here mama what am I to do.
Now look here mama what am I to do.
I ain't got nobody to tell my troubles to.

I worked on the levee mama both night and day
I worked on the levee mama both night and day
I ain't got nobody to keep the water away.

Ah, cryin won't help you, prayin won't don't no good.
Now cryin won't help you, prayin won't don't no good.
When the levee breaks, mama, you got to move.

I worked on the levee mama both night and day
I worked on the levee mama both night and day
I worked so hard to keep the water away.

I had a woman she wouldn't do for me.
I had a woman she wouldn't do for me.
I'm gonna back to my used to be.

That mean ole levee cause me to weep and moan.
That mean ole levee cause me to weep and moan.
Cause me to leave my happy home.

[transcription from the sound file by Azizi Powell.]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie for their Blues legacy. Thanks also to the uploader of this sound file.

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