MOSAIC NOLA:The Gentilly Project

Sunday, December 25, 2005

Twelve Days of Christmas (Post-Katrina New Orleans)

A couple weeks ago, I had been talking to Monisha, who's back in New Orleans, about that famous song - The Twelve Days of Christmas. We imagined what the lyrics for this song might be if modified for Post-Katrina New Orleans.

Back then, I thought that the twelve days ended with Christmas, but it turns out it was the other way around. Christmas Day is the beginning. The twelve days end with the night of January 5, the Eve of Epiphany.

So Monisha and I weren't able to brainstorm any lyrics for our imagined "Twelve Days" for New Orleans. But someone else had (see comments). The lyrics had me with the first day's reference to Entergy.

Spencer Bohren played the song at Snug Harbor during his Christmas show, and he apparently got the words from Sylvia Patterson right before. I don't know whether she wrote the lyrics herself or received them from elsewhere...

Enjoy. And have a Merry Christmas.

15 Comments:

  • On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    The power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:45 AM  

  • On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:46 AM  

  • On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:47 AM  

  • On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:47 AM  

  • On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:48 AM  

  • On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:49 AM  

  • On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:50 AM  

  • On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Eight dump trucks hauling
    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:50 AM  

  • On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Nine roofers roofing
    Eight dump trucks hauling
    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:51 AM  

  • On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Ten electricians wiring
    Nine roofers roofing
    Eight dump trucks hauling
    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:52 AM  

  • On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Eleven plumbers plumbing
    Ten electricians wiring
    Nine roofers roofing
    Eight dump trucks hauling
    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergy.

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:53 AM  

  • On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

    Twelve painters painting
    Eleven plumbers plumbing
    Ten electricians wiring
    Nine roofers roofing
    Eight dump trucks hauling
    Seven stacks of sheetrock
    Six mail deliveries
    Five MREs!
    Four jugs of bleach
    Three flood adjusters
    Two FEMA checks
    And the power turned back on by Entergyyyyy!

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 7:54 AM  

  • Excellent idea and post!

    And after sampling Spencer Bohren's "Down the Dirt Road Blues" album, it was quite clear that it is a significant piece of work capable of bringing meaningful awareness to many.

    By Blogger Patty Ann Smith, at 8:22 AM  

  • Hi Patty.

    I enjoyed his music too.

    NOLA musicians (and music) strike me as a critical vehicle for re-engaging the public with the city and its displaced residents.

    So far, I've seen fundraisers by or for NOLA musicians. Perhaps music can engage for recovery in other ways too?

    By Blogger Quintus Jett, at 2:58 PM  

  • By Blogger الحريف, at 9:34 AM  

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