Everybody knew that it could happenThe likelihood was clearThe future was comingAnd now it's hereThey had to fix the leveesBecause otherwise they'd breakOn one side was the cityAbove it was the lakeIt was in the daily papersIn bold letters was the writWhat would happenWhen the Big One hitBut every year they cut the fundingJust a little moreSo they could give it to the ArmyTo fight their oil warIn National GeographicAnd the Times-PicayuneThey forecast the apocalypseSaid it was coming soonPreparations must be made, they saidNow is the timeIt was years ago they shoutedInaction was a crimeThey said the dikes must be improvedAnd the wetlands must be savedBut Washington decidedInstead they should be pavedBecause malls were more importantThan peoples' livesSo put some gold dust in your eyesAnd hope no storm arrivesNew Orleans, New Orleans, New OrleansYears and years of warningNo evacuation planIt was just if the waters roseJust get out if you canThere were no busesNo one chartered any trainsThere was no plan to rescueAll of those who would remainAll the people with no moneyAll the people with no wheelsAll of those who didn't hotwireOne that they could stealThousands and thousands of peopleAbandoned by the stateAbandoned by their countryJust left to meet their fateNew Orleans, New Orleans, New OrleansAnd the people diedAnd then they died some moreThey drowned inside their atticsAn army of the poorAn army of the destituteWho couldn't get awayAnd the world will rememberThese sad and awful daysWhen people shouted from their housesDying on their roofsWhen people came to find themThey were turned back by the troopsThey died there with no waterThey died there in the heatThey were shot down by the soldiersFor trying to find some food to eatNew Orleans, New Orleans, New OrleansAnd now the city is in ruinsA massive toxic seaScattered through the nationHalf a million refugeesHere we areIn the richest country on the earthWhere the color of your skinDetermines what your life is worthWhere oil is the kingWhere global warming is ignoredWhere the very end of lifeIs the place we're heading towardWhere it's more than just a metaphorThe flooding of the dikeAnd if we don't stop this madnessThe whole planet will be likeNew Orleans, New Orleans, New Orleans
