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Ben Turner - The Corps Of Engineers Sank My Town

from Songs Not Bombs Vol. 2 by Various Artists

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lyrics

On the day I was born ma took pa’s hand
Said I’m sure glad you stuck around
He said “sure thing” and she figured as much
On the day that he split town
So I was raised in a shack in a valley not far
from a river that was prone to swell
Til the corps of engineers came right along
And they flooded our land to hell
Yeah we all lost something in that river
That’s how the story goes
That river built a lake that sank my town
Some two hundred feet below
Down there is where we’d go to pray each week
Down there is where we’d go to swear
Where the elderberry bushes lined our fields
Where we planted our roots in pairs
Yeah way back then, a large mouth bass
Only owned one half-acre plot
Til the corps of engineers came right along
And they sank away all our lots
Yeah we all lost something in that river
That’s how the story goes
That river built a lake that sank my town
Some two hundred feet below
Yeah they tore apart our home from the cornerstone
To the very last plank on our porch
Everything that was left to die or float
Was set to the smoke and scorch
Yeah the rats and the bees n the coyotes
They didn’t even stand a prayer
When the corps of engineers they came right along
And sank away all our air
Yeah we all lost something in that river
That’s how the story goes
That river built a lake that sank my town
Some two hundred feet below
Well we tried to fight for our way of life
But the world moved around too fast
So they dug up our dead and they shipped em out
Until we didn’t even have a past
Yeah we all lost something in that river
That’s how the story goes
That river built a lake that sank my town
Some two hundred feet below
So if you ever go on a weekend trip
And you wanna find this town of mine
Don’t hold your breath, cause all that’s left
Is a name on a highway sign
When I think of Pa and the hurtin that he done
When he left me and Ma behind
Hell, it don’t compare to The Corps Of Engineers
That sank that town of mine
Yeah we all lost something in that river
That’s how the story goes
That river built a lake that sank my town
Some two hundred feet below
Yeah The Corps Of Engineers sank my town
Some two hundred feet below

credits

from Songs Not Bombs Vol. 2, released April 5, 2024
Lyrics and music by Ben Turner

Recorded and mixed by Rob McAllister

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100% of Proceeds from all sales donated to PCRF - Palestinian Children's Relief Fund

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