It was the calm before the storm
The day before the levee broke
Fishin' off the bank
And the smell of the fire bed smoke
Life was pretty good
There was a warm breeze in the air
Nobody can know
What was about to happen here

Monday, August 29
And the rain fell heavy from the sky
17th Street Canal
Was the first to let the water by
Nobody could predict
Where the next wall was gonna fall
The only sure thing
Was we couldn't do nothin' at all

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call
The whole downtown
Was up to its neck in sand
Nobody came for days
Politicians didn't have a plan
Just put the blame on someone innocent
Let the people clear up the mess
But how long does it take
Some things are better left unsaid

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call
We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call

We just needed help (just a little)
From somebody
Help (just a little)
Can anybody hear us
Hear our call