It’s been a dry year in the Mississippi Basin.

In case you didn’t notice, this summer has been very dry. Daily headlines trumpet the crisis of low water along the Mississippi River and how it has slowed commercial barge traffic. I have even seen an occasional headline proclaiming that the Mississippi River is dying! Dying! Don’t worry. The river isn’t dying, at least not from low water.

Headline writers may love droughts, but musicians–not so much. While I have found dozens of songs about floods along the Mississippi River, I have found almost none about droughts. The closest I can come is When the Banks of the Mississippi Run Dry from Ottawa native Robert Farrell, who is not referencing an actual drought but wrote about the river drying up in metaphorical terms. Regardless, it’s a fine song and one you should check it out right now. The song was originally released on his 1997 CD When the Banks of the Mississippi Run Dry.

Listen to the song here (and search for “Mississippi” to find it).

Check out other river songs here.

Read about Mississippi River music here.