Crawfisher Drew Landry Uses Folk Song To Urge Oil Spill Commission To 'Do The Right Damn Thing' (VIDEO)

The White House oil spill commission got some advice in an unexpected form this week: a stirring folk song from a Louisiana native who pushed those assembled to "just do the right damn thing."

During a public comment period toward the end of the commission's Monday meeting, Drew Landry, a native of Lafeyette, Louisiana and a Cajun singer-songwriter of some renown, told the commissioners that the army of contractors brought in to clean up the oil flooding the gulf are largely wasting the region's limited financial resources.

"When words failed, music prevailed," said one blogger who posted the video on Tuesday. "I don't remember a time where I've seen a hearing like this."

"We definitely need other solutions, going green -- whatever it takes, man," Landry said, addressing commission co-chair Bob Graham, a former Democratic senator from Florida. "We've got nothing. We don't want to be a welfare state. There's no point in that. We're hardworking people."

Landry said he and his neighbors work in crawfish holes or "pay the bills" in the oil fields, and the recent calamity has been devastating to their way of life. He chose to express that hardship in song.

"I never thought I'd be the hippie that brings the guitar into the meeting," he said wryly, before beginning to play.

"It feels like BP is in control of this deal, and the Coast Guard does what they want, you know, the press can't be around. But more importantly, it feels like the people don't have a voice in this thing," Landry lamented after he finished singing. "It just sucks. Let's just do the right damn thing. It shouldn't be this hard. It shouldn't take a committee to listen to people."

The singer-songwriter said he fears the oil spill and the miserable economic environment will force the "expulsion" of the gulf's residents, "people who love this place."

"I just want to say, nobody stirred while you sang," Graham told Landry. "Everybody's with you."

Landry isn't the only one with an oil spill song. New Orleans' Hot 8 Brass Band has cut a free-for-download track called "Sorry Ain't Enough No More."

Via NewOrleans.com, here are the lyrics to Landry's song:

grew up on the southern shore Louisiana now there ain't no more

kickin mud off up a crawfish hole barefooted with a fishin pole

make a living with my own two hands hell it's part of being who I am

went to workin in the oil fields that's the only way to pay our bills

and if I'm lucky I can have a son take him hunting like his daddy done

get him workin on a shrimpin boat up and down the Gulf of Mexico

eleven dead out on a deep sea rig doin what it is they had to live

oil bleeding from a gaping hole up and down the Gulf of Mexico

Morgan City down to Mobile Bay Pascagula down to FLA

still I'm stuck out here for 7 more watching everything turn black offshore

and brother even if they cap the well hell it's just another oil spill

our way of life won't be around no more and all I wanted was to go back home.

little brother he ain't feeling well, what you spraying on that oil spill

how many of us gonna lose our lives before the people get to work on time

kickin mud up off a crawfish hole barefooted with a fishing pole

goin back into the oil fields that's the only way to pay our bills...

Comments

[VeganSue]

09:06 AM on 07/15/2010

Deepfreeze,

I don't know if you are being facetious about letting them "off the hook" but whether Obama was "hand-picked" or not, HE made the CHOICE.

The COREXIT is being sprayed by The Coast Guard. The local governments are seeing and experiencing the harmful effects of the dispersants, they want them STOPPED. The approval to spray is by the EPA, who reports to THE PRESIDENT.

Obama is clearly NOT naive. He's a Harvard Law School Graduate, he likes the money, the vacations, the nice clothes. He wanted it and was more than WILLING to "SELL HIS SOUL".

If we keep buying into the PRODUCT and then REMAIN SILENT when people, the environment and animals are suffering as a result of their policies, we are only helping THEIR AGENDA.

[VeganSue]

08:41 AM on 07/15/2010

Here is the link to the article stating that The Coast Guard IS SPRAYING THE COREXIT.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/epa-coast-guard-and-bp-pr_b_636268.html

"This provides a stunning connection, since Ogilvy Public Relations is the same PR firm that represents BP and also has THE COAST GUARD MEDIA RELATIONS PERSON, Petty Officer RACHEL POLISH, employed as a VICE PRESIDENT of the company.

Rawstory reported yesterday (June 5) that THE COAST GUARD has been involved in SPRAYING COREXIT and that it has traveled inland, an allegation that is supported by the TAGA route monitoring."

See Coast Guard Media Liaison Works for BP PR Firm.

THE COAST GUARD has also THWARTED every effort by local government to protect the marshes, estuaries and beaches.

Bill Nungesser, another parish president, a journalist and James Carville have been on CNN with Anderson Cooper stating they tried to adjust BOOMS after the storms, used the skimmers they had and WETVACS, and built BERMS and all efforts were STOPPED by The Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard's MEDIA person, Rachel Polish, is also the VICE PRESIDENT of Ogilvy PR that REPRESENTS BP.

Clearly there is COLLUSION.

BP is PROFITING off the COREXIT being sprayed through the former BP executive that is on the Board at Nalco, the manufacturer.

BP is also PROFITING off the COREXIT being sprayed because it is making it impossible to MEASURE the OIL to FINE.

THE COAST GUARD IS DOING THE SPRAYING OF COREXIT.

[Manfred Helfert]

03:29 AM on 07/15/2010

‎"IF YOU WILL LISTEN TO YOURSELF while you do your work you will hear yourself hum and sing your own song about your own life. You are making up a folk song. You have really made up a whole ballad. If you take the time to write down all of those whirling words and tunes in your own mind about the folks that you know you would be famous as a composer... See More.

I HAVE NEVER HEARD a nation of people sing an editorial out of a paper. A man sings about the little things that help him or hurt his people and he sings of what has got to be done to fix this world like it ought to be. These songs are singing history. History is being sung."
-- Woodrow Wilson Guthrie in a 1945 mimeographed songbook, transcription at http://woodyguthrie.de/songbook.html

[Manfred Helfert]

04:11 AM on 07/15/2010

Facsimile (parts hardly legible, the transcription comes from a more legible copy):
http://www.eff.org/files/filenode/JibJab_v_Ludlow/20040823_Jibjab_Copyright_Scans.pdf

[hoppingestfrog]

01:04 AM on 07/15/2010

Don't be surprised if this song is covered or replayed a few generations from now. Much like listening to songs regarding the depression, slavery, disasters, and so forth; this very well may work itself into folk song culture. That's what I love about the tradition, beautiful songs about things we should never forget.

[anticapitalist1983]

07:51 PM on 07/14/2010

This is the best oil spill article ive read yet. It truly puts it all together. Blame BP, big oil, AND the government!!! Read it here: http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2010no-accident-bp
Read it! Share it!!!
Everyone who cares about louisianas wetlands needs to read this!

[VeganSue]

08:59 AM on 07/15/2010

anticapitalist,

I agree. We do need to hold ALL parties responsible.

The federal government has all "hands on deck" to brainwash the masses into believing BP is the ONLY guilty party.

If only they had "all hands on deck" to act on the spill on DAY ONE as General Honore said Obama should have done.

This is truly EVIL on the part of ALL individuals involved in letting this happen, refusing to act on it and allowing and helping BP spray the toxic COREXIT.

Here is the MSDS sheet for the COREXIT The COAST GUARD is continuing to spray on the GULF and part of the HAZARD information.

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/posted/2931/Corexit_EC9527A_MSDS.539295.pdf

"Our hazard evaluation has identified the following chemical substance(s) as hazardous.

2-Butoxyethanol 111-76-2 30.0 - 60.0
Organic sulfonic acid salt Proprietary 10.0 - 30.0
Propylene Glycol 57-55-6 1.0 - 5.0

**EMERGENCY OVERVIEW**
WARNING
Eye and skin irritant. Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells(hemolysis), kidney or the liver. Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin and if swallowed.
Do not get in eyes, on skin, on clothing.

Wear suitable protective clothing. Keep container tightly closed. Keep away from heat. Keep
away from sources of ignition - No smoking.
May evolve oxides of carbon (COx) under fire conditions.

[Paladine]

05:18 PM on 07/14/2010

I loved the song and his voice...very moving.

[Janet Bratter]

05:09 PM on 07/14/2010

Did any of those suits with their well paid DC jobs really get what the "hippie folk-singer" was trying to tell them? Can they wean themselves off the pay-offs that big oil and the rest of the global corporatocracy gives them? So many "elected"/bought and paid for politicians operate like puppets on a string. From everything they do to everything they say, it seems they know there's a gun to their heads and the trigger has the finger of their pay-masters on it.

We have a president who bowed to a Saudi "King". We have a sclerotic Senate and Congress filled with lifers. We have self-serving politicians and bureaucrats who answer not to the people but to the oligarchs. We have media moguls who dump on the common women and men whose labor creates the wealth. And we have the duped and deceived who fail to realize that those they support are precisely those who perpetuate the ongoing crimes against nature and all sentient beings.

Today is July 14. Bastille Day. Let us remember what some of our ancestors took it upon themselves to do to liberate themselves from oppression over two hundred years ago. Vive la france. (and sharpen your blades.)

[MsLiz]

05:32 PM on 07/14/2010

http://www.insidesocal.com/friendlyfire/w%20Saudi%20kiss.jpg

Bush and the Saudi prince.

[VeganSue]

06:31 PM on 07/14/2010

Well said, Janet.

And let's not forget, a President, Mr. Obama, who was THE highest-paid recipient by BP of campaign donations in 2008.

You're right, and all Bob Graham could say is "did you notice how still everyone was" to Drew after he sang.

I'm sure they are still "STILL" in place and have no intention of ACTING on this ATROCITY.

The ones "ADDICTED TO OIL" are OUR elected representatives, not the people.

They are benefiting from the sickening saturation of PETROLEUM in everything, NOT us.

Like in the Gulf, we all are being poisoned by the petroleum in our food and just about every product there is.

The President and Congress are ADDICTED to their power, money and prestige and the people, animals and the environment have to suffer for it.

[mamababa]

04:54 PM on 07/14/2010

How come the other group, Hot 8 Brass Band, didn't get an article on HPo but this guy Landry did?

[VeganSue]

03:43 PM on 07/14/2010

The Coast Guard has been identified spraying TOXIC COREXIT dispersants under the cover of NIGHT.

READ: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/georgianne-nienaber/epa-coast-guard-and-bp-pr_b_636268.html

Here is the MSDS sheet:

http://www.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com/posted/2931/Corexit_EC9527A_MSDS.539295.pdf

**EMERGENCY OVERVIEW**
WARNING
Eye and skin irritant. Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells (hemolysis), kidney or the liver. Harmful by INHALATION in contact with skin and if swallowed.

Do not get in eyes, on skin, on clothing. Keep away from heat. Keep away from sources of ignition - No smoking.

INHALATION :
Harmful by INHALATION. Harmful by INHALATION. Repeated or prolonged exposure may irritate the respiratory tract.

SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE :
Acute :
Excessive exposure may cause central nervous system effects, nausea, vomiting, anesthetic or narcotic effects.

Chronic :
Repeated or excessive exposure to butoxyethanol may cause injury to red blood cells (hemolysis), kidney or the liver.

WE DEMAND THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA ORDER THE COAST GUARD TO STOP SPRAYING THE COREXIT NOW.

[Bob Soper]

04:00 PM on 07/14/2010

Drew Landry was spot-on when he asserted that the Coast Guard seems to be working for BP

[VeganSue]

04:54 PM on 07/14/2010

That's a good point, Bob.

I just noticed that Drew did make the comment "It feels like BP is in control of this deal, and the Coast Guard does what they want, you know, the press can't be around."

And the thing is, that the local governments want them to STOP spraying the COREXIT because they see what it is doing to people and wildlife.

It is the President that The Coast Guard is taking orders from in alliance with BP.

[paganmist]

07:16 PM on 07/14/2010

Okay. Enough with the Coast Guard attacks. Having worked with them, on this specific issue, I have witnessed how many people are monitoring this and working their tails off. Staying late, working on holidays and weekends, and taking a lot of abuse at the same time, over something that none of them did.

It'd be nice if people could keep that in mind when they're calling up the Coast Guard and cursing out that person on the other end. Everyone is working as hard as they possibly can on this, they are just as angry and upset as you are, they're not taking kickbacks from BP, they're doing the best they can.

[Frank Choi]

03:39 PM on 07/14/2010

This guy should be leading the efforts down in the gulf-- not Thad Allen, BP, or whatever commission that DC wants to put together for a dog and pony show. It is these kinds of people that have a passion for getting things right that need to be in charge. No self-interests other than making sure the general welfare moves on.

[deepfreezevideo]

03:24 PM on 07/14/2010

I am convinced that the government is under orders to destroy this country and that they will stop at nothing to follow those orders. The money elite, industrial and banking interests that run the planet have decided that it's their mission to bring America to its knees, so that they can implement their plans. As long as the USA remains a viable nation, they won't be able to pursue their plans, so the mission is to do whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes, to disable the nation and destroy the unity of the American people, until our will is broken and we are at each other's throats like enemies instead of standing together as a strong and confident multivariate and well educated society.
The government IS the servant of the money elite, the industrial tycoons and the banking interests and multinational corporations.
And we are the expendables, the enemy, the useless wage slaves, and we are to be conquered and evicted. I don't know how much clearer it has to be before people realize that their own government and political parties have declared war on them.

[JoeLeland]

03:38 PM on 07/14/2010

Sounds absurd, but actions speak louder than words, and their actions are beginning to back up your crazy claim. Are we living in a Kleto-Plucratic Corporate State ?

[MsLiz]

05:34 PM on 07/14/2010

So who do you think these oligarchs are? Foreigners or American Republicans?

[hubbahubba77]

02:57 PM on 07/14/2010

America has a long history of "not doing the right thing." People tend to forget that. Look at 9/11 and how victims' family members had to fight tooth and nail just to get a commission formed, when this was the worst terrorist attack ever on American soil! And in the end the commission didn't accomplish anything anyway. Now we have the worst environmental disaster in our history and I feel like history is repeating itself -- history which we ALL should be familiar with, because we were all around 8 or 9 years ago and paying attention... Weren't we?? I'm sick to death of this.

[DemsAreProfoundFools]

04:23 PM on 07/14/2010

Not to Worry !

The Messiah represents hope and Change We Can Believe in !

[JonShank]

06:07 PM on 07/14/2010

OR... we could believe in the conservatards, who bungled 9/11, bumbled the Iraq War, lost Bin Laden... f***ed up Katrina, and turned a budget surplus into the second Depression.

And they want to be elected again... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!!

[indy100]

06:50 PM on 07/14/2010

Wow what a profound post. NOT. And demsareprofound fools?? Sorry, your own words prove otherwise.

[vinny]

02:40 PM on 07/14/2010

Ladder to Heaven by Alan Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJ_E7Vce8vU

[whateverhappened]

02:14 PM on 07/15/2010

haha...first thing i thought of when i saw this article

[vinny]

02:40 PM on 07/15/2010

me too... funny as hell

[elkabong]

02:10 PM on 07/14/2010

A working man voting for a Republican is like a chicken voting for Colonel Sanders. And when are they going to stop voting for any corporate shill who uses the words "God" and "Christian?" It's no credit to Christianity to be so stupid, election after election.

[SeconLine]

02:23 PM on 07/14/2010

Why haven't I fanned you before?

[elkabong]

02:24 PM on 07/14/2010

I have no idea why everyone hasn't fanned me before.

[JacksonRaiford]

02:30 PM on 07/14/2010

While I don't disagree with your post, I wonder why anyone would believe for a second that EITHER party gives a r@t's @ss about us "little people" when BOTH prove otherwise on a regular basis?

The Reps are corrupt and the Dems complicit, at best.

[elkabong]

02:37 PM on 07/14/2010

Democrats do the right thing sometimes. Republicans never do the right thing. They still believe in a philosophy that has proven itself bankrupt even in the face of overwhelming evidence.

Campaign finance and lobbying are the diseases -- everything else, merely a symptom When enough people realize it and vow to correct it, things will change, but not until then.

[Daisytoo]

02:45 PM on 07/14/2010

Why do you refer to yourself as a little person. For God's sake, you're an American! Have some gumption!!

[novo organon]

02:06 PM on 07/14/2010

Money is the absolute good for Banks, natrually, because it is the abstract satisfaction of every wish and desire. Swipe fees that Banks and Credit Card Companies charge to merchants is designed the increase profits for its CEO's. Therefore, the unnecessary increase in swipe fees was meant to increase the fulfillment of those CEo's every wish and desire.

Novo