Track 4: Flood of Shawneetown

Lew Hendrix and Josh Morrison

Artist: Mila Maring and The Kitchen Table Crew
Written by G. B. Fields (1898)
Arranged by Mila Maring and Josh Morrison

Performed by:
Vocals by Mila Maring
Guitar by Josh Morrison
Banjo by Lew Hendrix
Bass by Nate Graham
Fiddle by Toby Merriman

Audio Link= https://rivertorivercommunityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/flood-of-shawneetown

No stranger to flooding, Shawneetown suffered numerous natural disasters, the most devastating being the 1937 Flood. Photographers such as Arthur Rothstein and Russell Lee working for the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information immortalized the harsh daily living conditions of the residents of Shawneetown as they struggled to regain a sense of normalcy. The entire town of Shawneetown was later relocated by the federal government three miles inland. Although G. B. Fields wrote his song to commemorate a late 19th century deluge, these black and white photographs help humanize the song for today’s listeners.  -SD

You can’t have an album about the identity of this region without addressing a universal experience for all who live here: flooding. While many of us know how dangerous it can get in this area between two major rivers, after an event happens we rush to those areas of the state where the water is still high so we can stand in awe of its power. This traditional tune, now in the public domain, is a deeply tragic ballad about the flooding of Shawneetown in the late 1800s that washed away over five hundred people when the levees broke. I asked Mila Maring to sing this one because I believed her angelic voice could soften the ache of such a heartbreaking song. Mila brought in Lew Hendrix, who plays the banjo using a frailing technique, which suits this tune nicely. -JP

Lyrics

In the town of Shawneetown
As the evening shades cames down
On a quiet Sabbath evening, cold and gray
While the people walked the street
Or in dear communion sweet
Within their peaceful homes the close of day

All at once the bells were ringing
With a wild and awful din
While the fearful fact breaks over one and all

That the faithful levees broke
Pales the lips of those who spoke
While the roaring, clashing, awful flood comes in

There were heroes, too, that day
Franklin Robinson, they say
With his boat brought many safely to the shore
While they struggled with the waves
He rowed out, their lives to save
Working bravely ‘til the awful flood was o’er

Father Bikeman saw it coming
Like a giant mountain high
And he knew what dangers in his pathway lie

But he did his duty well
While he boldly rang the bell
Warning all within the danger line to fly

In the town of Shawneetown
There are broken hearts and homes
Since that fateful Sabbath evening, cold and gray
Where was once all smiles and light
There is not but darkest night
Where was once a happy city, wrecks appear

Let us rally to their hardship
From the city, hill and plain
Give our sympathy and money to their aid

Soon calamity may fall
On our loved ones, homes and all
May be separated ne’re to meet again