An only semi-autobiographical account of life in NYC, written and sung by Emily Johnson-Erday, played by family and friends:

Randy Johnson, fiddle
Corey Johnson-Erday, guitar
Julia Houghton, piano
Alexander Kaji, trombone

New York City Rag

The Old City

Written and performed by Emily Johnson-Erday.
Additional vocals by Julia Houghton.

He said it won’t be water
He said it won’t be rain
He said we wouldn’t have anybody 
But our own damn selves to blame

It won’t be the water
It won’t be the rain
It won’t be the water 
Oh Lord, it’ll be the flame

Did you ever hear the story
Of old Noah and the flood
How our Father broke the sky apart
And spared him from the mud?

When you heard about the rainbow
Did you ever wonder why
He would ever grant us a second chance
If we’re all born to die

It won’t be the water
It won’t be the rain
It won’t be the water 
Oh Lord it’ll be the flame

Now He looks on His creation
Grieving what He sees
As we kill His children in His name
And ignore the least of these

And the same poor sinners preaching 
The lessons of his son
Let a hundred holy houses burn
But only mourned for one

He’s begging us to listen
To the signs from up above
He knows that hate is easy
And, God knows, we need more love

It won’t be the water
It won’t be the rain
It won’t be the water 
Oh Lord, it’ll be the flame

Are we bound for peace and plenty
In the land of endless days?
Or did he say it would be the fire this time
Cause he knew we’d light the blaze?

Did he say it would be the fire this time
Cause he knew we’d light the blaze?

Emily Johnson-Erday

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