Opryland Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee, AP News photo

Last night, Penny Marie, a former Bakersfield resident, rising star, and good friend of mine, (who now resides in Nashville, and just happened to be online while I was on facebook), began to share the devastation of her town and the surrounding region with me in pictures and words.  I had heard about the flood but this first-hand account made it much more real to me and so I wrote a song of support. 

I plan to record the song tomorrow and hope to use it as a statement of support from those of us in Bakersfield to the folks who suffer from the devastation of the flood in Nashville and in the surrounding region of landed flooded by the Cumberland River waters. 

This is going out to all of you great people in Nashville from me, Dr BLT and all of my friends here in Bakersfield.  I'll add audio tomorrow.  In the meantime, here are the lyrics:

WASHED OUT IN NASHVILLE TONIGHT
words and music by Dr BLT © 2010

I heard it from Penny Marie
who now lives there in Tennesse
she lives in the city of Nashville
a Bakersfield girl with a dream
she sent me the footage you know
her city submerged in a flood
the Cumberland River had risen
they were covered with water and mud

chorus:
yes, the city is covered in water
at Opryland, they've dimmed the lights
some lost their homes
some lost their lives
washed out in Nashville tonight

the houses have turned into mud huts
with residents soaked to the bone
the Mecca of dreamers and cowboys
at the Opry there ain't no more shows

music itself has been damaged
like hearts in the wind and the rain
Lord, won't you draw back the waters
and heal broken hearts filled with pain

(chorus)

Nashville Red Cross: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.nashvilleredcross.org />
Hands On Nashville: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.hon.org />
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee:
www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.secondharvestmidtn.org/ />
The Community Foundation Flood Relief: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.cfmt.org />
The Community Foundation: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.GivingMatters.com />
This group is donating to Nashville based on how many followers they pick up! : www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;http:/twitter.com/CntryMusicCares/follow-for-flood-victims/members />
Flood Victim Housing: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.woodbinefarmersmarket.com />
Also, 3rd and Lindsley will host a benefit show with bands, silent auction, and raffle. Go to: www.facebook.com/l/b13eb;www.3rdandLindsley.com for details

and a benefit Art Show will be held at Bilups Art, 1008-c Woodland St. in east Nashville. The show is Saturday, May 15th.