In New Orleans, the word hurricane has
two meanings. One is a force of nature that when unleashed leaves a wake of
destruction in its path. The second is a type of weather.
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| That delicious drink... |
New Orleans has become famous for both
types of hurricanes. Popularized in the 1940s at Pat O’Brien’s bar, the
hurricane cocktail consists of rum, fruit juice, and grenadine. Since then, this
cousin of the daiquiri has become a staple of the French Quarter. Tourists and
locals alike tote the brightly colored drinks around in go cups* up and down
Bourbon Street. New Orleans also has a long and brutal history with hurricanes
that have threatened its very survival. In 1722, a hurricane ruined the young, makeshift
settlement and gave birth to the city we know today. In 2005, a hurricane nearly
destroyed the beautiful city. Throughout its history, New Orleans was and is a
city living on the edge of Mother Nature.
* for
the uninitiated, a go cup is precisely what it sounds like, you can get your
alcohol at a bar and take it with you when you leave.
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| The Go-Cup, one of the greatest things about New Orleans. |
As a result of this reality, residents
have developed a stubborn attitude regarding hurricanes. Rather than flee on
the oncoming storm, they tempt fate by staying behind. They prefer the safety
of their homes over packing into their cars and driving inland. Drinking and
listening to music beats sitting in traffic on the I-10 or in a hotel room in
Texas. Hurricane parties have become a New Orleans tradition. People gather at
someone’s home and consume copious amounts of alcohol—including hurricanes and
then ride out the storm in safety.
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| The Once and Future DJ |
Composed before Hurricane Katrina,
Davis Rogan’s song, Hurricane, effectively
captures this mentality. The song, fittingly, barely survived Hurricane
Katrina. The master copy of Rogan’s first CD, The Once and Future DJ, disappeared in the floodwaters of the
Loyola Avenue post office. Luckily the album survived on the hard drive of the
CD’s engineer. In the song, Rogan refers to hurricanes Camille and Betsy, two
storms that had threatened New Orleans in the 1960s. In 1965, Betsy made
landfall close to the city, breaking through the levees and flooding parts of
New Orleans. Camille, the stronger of the two storms, struck Mississippi in
1969, largely sparing the city. Rogan’s lyric, “I’ll stay here in New Orleans
with a cold drink in my hand” epitomizes this pre-Katrina mentality. He has
described the song as “the last hurricane-themed song before Katrina.” While
the devastating hurricane of 2005 has forever changed its context and meaning, the
song still encapsulates the spirit and attitudes of New Orleans residents.
Nature may occasionally wreak havoc on New Orleans, but its residents will
always persevere—with a cold drink in their hands.
Hurricane
Well you standin’ on the corner
with your umbrella in your hand
Standin’ on the corner keepin’
out the pourin’ rain
Umbrella won’t help ya when
they hit you with the hurricane
I’m-un-ah buy me a pirogue,
lash it to my balcony
It’s a little boat baby, nuff
room for you and me
When the water comes to meet
us, we’ll float on out to sea
Well they all evecuatin’ -- I
ain’t goin’
Some folks ain’t waitin’ -- I
ain’t goin’
A Category 7 -- I ain’t goin’
Knock us all to heaven - I
ain’t goin’
Well I’m stayin’ in New Orleans
with a cold drink in my hand
Well they open up the highway,
tryin’ to get the contra-flow
Folks is stuck in traffic got
no place to go
But I’m kicking it at my house,
I won’t say I told you so
My house lasted through Betsy
and it stood through Camille
‘Cause back when they built my
house they was buildin’ houses for real
I’m-a stay here on the premises
so I can be here to deal
Well I got me my water -- I
ain’t goin’
Camp stove and a shotgun -- I
ain’t goin’
Do what you oughta -- I ain’t
goin’
But I’m-un-ah stay here, son
--I ain’t goin’
I’ll stay here in New Orleans
with a cold drink in my hand
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