"How High's the Water Mama?"

"Two Feet High and Rising"...........I learnt the words of this song by heart, while working as a jillaroo (farm hand) on my cousin's sheep and cattle property in rural Australia.  Every sunday morning we were woken up by one of his Johnny Cash records played at full volume - so all the livestock of the farm could hear.  I grew to love Cash's music (it was either that or go insane).  One of the songs I learnt was Johnny Cash's song about a flood.

Five Feet High and Rising by John R. Cash
Recorded 3/12/59
Number 14 - Country Chart; Number 76 - Pop Chart

My mama always taught me that good things come from adversity if we put our faith in the Lord.
We couldn't see much good in the flood waters when they
were causing us to have to leave home,
But when the water went down, we found that it had washed a load of rich black bottom dirt across our land. The following year we had the best cotton crop we'd ever had.

I remember hearing:

How high's the water, mama?
Two feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Two feet high and risin'

We can make it to the road in a homemade boat
That's the only thing we got left that'll float
It's already over all the wheat and the oats,
Two feet high and risin'

How high's the water, mama?
Three feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Three feet high and risin'

Well, the hives are gone,
I've lost my bees
The chickens are sleepin'
In the willow trees
Cow's in water up past her knees,
Three feet high and risin'

How high's the water, mama?
Four feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Four feet high and risin'

Hey, come look through the window pane,
The bus is comin', gonna take us to the train
Looks like we'll be blessed with a little more rain,
4 feet high and risin'

How high's the water, mama?
Five feet high and risin'
How high's the water, papa?
Five feet high and risin'

Well, the rails are washed out north of town
We gotta head for higher ground
We can't come back till the water comes down,
Five feet high and risin'

Well, it's five feet high and risin'

What's this got to do with homeschooling?  Well, why not show your kids some pictures of America's largest watershed at the moment, get them up to date with current affairs (what's happening in the US now?), give them some geography (Where is the Mississippi?)  and weather lessons about La Nina = more rain; drainage = collection of water down one very large ditch. Science lessons - Why would the cotton grow better the next year?  Give them some historical information (levee was finished when? How was the levee built (wheelbarrows and shovels). How did the levee break in 1927? (it was suggested that someone used dynamite on the Arkansas side of the River, to relieve the pressure on the levee on the Mississippi side).  How can hard times inspire literature and art?  Did the 1927 flood inspire this song? (Johnny Cash was raised on a cotton farm in Arkansas which was flooded several times).  How about taking the lyrics of this song and getting your kids to write a short story based on it?  Art - well, imagine the scenes from the song lyrics!! 

Here is a photo of 6 wild turkeys we saw while driving along the levee on Friday, their normal territory was flooded out (as can be seen), when we came past they could only fly back and sit in the trees.  There are huge numbers of wildlife (especially deer) that will be forced out of their stamping grounds onto farmers lush wheat crops until the water goes back down.  We are hoping the waters go back down quickly!

Aussie Kim

Comments

[LA Sue]

That's making lemonade out of lemons!

[Aussie Kim]

That's making unschooling out of life!!