Near the last of August
in the year two thousand five
The hurricane Katrina and
some mighty waves arrive
And when the storm is over
devastating are the scenes
But, even more horrific is
The Shame Of New Orleans

Oh, they fire off guns,
It's an anarchy beginnin'
They're looting food and water
That was promised days ago
Many others dyin'
From the waste and all the needin'
Of the New Orleans survivors
On the Gulf of Mexico..

Some convene at the center
where they hear a bus will come
Hot and weary, thousands of 'em
thirsty, hungry, numb
Both young and old,
many moms with babes in arm
Are wadin' through the waters
to escape the way of harm

Evacuation
is an order handed down
But, with no communication
how ya' gonna' tell the town?
Coast Guard heroes
rescue many
do their job
Arsonists and rapists, too
are mixed among the mob

Oh, they fire off guns
with an anarchy beginnin'
There is no peace and order
Law enforcement at a low
In the Superdome
facin' Hell without a Satan
The New Orleans survivors
At the Gulf of Mexico..

Water rose above the rooftops
when the levees didn't hold
Could be bodies in the attics
after stories can be told
Those who have been rescued
face a challenge, bigger still
When bussed to other cities
no belongings, 'cept their will

Then big news conf 'rences
where politicians drool
Make Mayor Ray Nagin
blow his top and lose his cool
Tho' the storm struck Monday
reapin' havoc and a mess
No real aid comes till Friday
from a desperate "SOS"

Oh, they still hear guns
many buildings yet a'burnin'
The Guard has brought some order
not containment, by no means
The pain goes on
and an awful lot of suff 'rin
People of the world all
feel The Shame Of New Orleans..

Who's to take the blame
for..The.. Shame... Of... New Orleans?