We developed this list of songs as we watched reports of the river flooding its way down the middle of the country. We are thinking of those in the river’s path.

After The Flood Lone Justice; Lone Justice (Geffen)

Bridge Washed Out Warner Mack; Country’s Greatest Hits-#3-C (MCA)

Flood Of ’57 Stanley Brothers & The Clinch Mountain Boys; Classic Bluegrass (Rebel)

Homeless Blues Odetta; Blues Everywhere I Go (M.C.)

Ol’ Man River Paul Robeson; Ol’ Man River (Mbop Global)

River, Stay ’Way From My Door Ethel Waters; Stars Salute Sinatra-C (Horgi)

Story Of The Mighty Mississippi Ernest Stoneman; People Take Warning! Murder Ballads And Disaster Songs-1913-1938-C (Tompkins Square)

When The Levee Breaks Memphis Minnie; Queen Of The Blues (Columbia/Legacy)

C = Compilation

For more, see GreenBookofSongs.com® categories Floods, Rivers and Danger & Disaster.

Five years ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas. The images of Americans calling for help from rooftops and flooded streets will stay with us forever.

In our post on this topic last year, we looked at songs from the personal, the political and the practical perspectives. This year, we list songs of rebuilding and renewal, of strength and hope. New Orleans — indeed, the entire Gulf Coast – will not be washed away.

1. How’s Your House Ian Hunter; ReDefine 8/29-C (NOMRF.org)
2. Let Your Light Shine R. Kelly; Single-Let Your Light Shine (Jive)
3. Poor Man’s Paradise Subdudes; Street Symphony (Narada)
4. Washed By The Water Will Hoge; Draw The Curtains (Rykodisc)
5. We Got Each Other (The Evacuation Song) Imagination Movers; Eight Feet (Walt Disney)

For all 64 songs on this topic, see GreenBookOfSongs.com® category Danger & Disaster: Hurricane Katrina.

A sad entry into the GreenBookofSongs.com® catalog is its newest category, Danger & Disaster: Oil Spills. Spurred by the ongoing tragedy of the Gulf oil spill, the Green Book has now begun collecting songs about this and other oil-related disasters.

The Green Book Of Songs By Subject has a long history of cataloging songs about disasters, both man-made and natural. Examples include songs about shipwrecks, road accidents and train disasters; floods, hurricanes and ecological woes; and more recent categories devoted to songs about 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. In addition, two rich categories for Protest and Politics: Social Injustice contain numerous songs decrying war, poverty and prejudice.

This new list differs from most Green Book categories in that it contains several grassroots contributions, including several homemade videos. Many of the songs we’ve gathered so far have been donated in order to raise money for the human and animal victims of the Deepwater spill. In keeping with that spirit, we are printing here the entire initial list of 14 songs, with links where available to a source where you can purchase and contribute.  Your suggestions for additions to this category are welcome.

1. Black Gold Dr. John; Video-Black Gold (DirtyCajuns.com)
2. BP Blues dirtycajuns; Video-BP Blues (DirtyCajuns.com)
3. Cry For The Fishermen Acoustic Fusion; Gulf Coast Relief-C (Global Green USA)
4. Don’t Go/BP Amoco Pearl Jam; Video-Don’t Go/BP Amoco (YouTube.com)
5. Drill Baby Drill Gil; Gulf Coast Relief-C (Global Green USA)
6. F.BP Revolving EffeX; Video-F.BP (YouTube.com)
7. Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick John Fahel; The Great Santa Barbara Oil Slick (Water)
8. Hole In The Ocean, A Joe Monto; Video-A Hole In The Ocean (AHoleInTheOcean.com)
9. It Ain’t My Fault Gulf Aid All Stars featuring The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz, Tim robbins and Trombone Shorty; Video-It Ain’t My Fault (Gulf Aid)
10. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) Marvin Gaye; What’s Going On (Motown)
11. Oil Is Blood Anfo Merc; Road Rage (Aluminum Legion)
12. Oil Song Steve Forbert; Best Of Steve Forbert-What Kinda Guy? (Nemperor)
13. Our World (Gulf Spill Awareness Version) Buckcherry; Video-Our World (Gulf Spill Awareness Version) (Geffen)
14. Sex Kills Joni Mitchell; The Beginning Of Survival (Geffen)