Cold Missouri Waters

River forecasters have a good deal in common with forecasters of other natural disasters, such as wildfires (called bushfires here in Australia). They inform response teams in the field that try to protect lives and property. Snap decisions have to be made under pressure. Lastly, you can always be sure that this coming year is going to be the weirdest yet.

Folk band Cry Cry Cry did a cover of "Cold Missouri Waters", a true story of a fire that seemed controllable but eventually consumed a number of fire fighters. Dodge is the main character and is speaking from his deathbed (Hodgkin's disease) 5 years after the fire. He is haunted because he was responsible for thirteen people who died. Forecasters, like firefighters have to deal with many ordinary, even boring situations. But when action happens, it comes quickly. Here are the lyrics.

My name is Dodge, but then you know that

It's written on the chart there at the foot end of the bed

They think I'm blind, I can't read it

I've read it every word, and every word it says is death

So, Confession - is that the reason that you came

Get it off my chest before I check out of the game

Since you mention it, well there's thirteen things I'll name

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

August 'Forty-Nine, north Montana

The hottest day on record, the forest tinder dry

Lightning strikes in the mountains

I was crew chief at the jump base, I prepared the boys to fly

Pick the drop zone, C-47 comes in low

Feel the tap upon your leg that tells you go

See the circle of the fire down below

Fifteen of us dropped above the cold Missouri waters

Gauged the fire, I'd seen bigger

So I ordered them to sidehill and we'd fight it from below

We'd have our backs to the river

We'd have it licked by morning even if we took it slow

But the fire crowned, jumped the valley just ahead

There was no way down, headed for the ridge instead

Too big to fight it, we'd have to fight that slope instead

Flames one step behind above the cold Missouri waters

Sky had turned red, smoke was boiling

Two hundred yards to safety, death was fifty yards behind

I don't know why I just thought it

I struck a match to waist high grass running out of time

Tried to tell them, Step into this fire I set

We can't make it, this is the only chance you'll get

But they cursed me, ran for the rocks above instead

I lay face down and prayed above the cold Missouri waters

And when I rose, like the phoenix

In that world reduced to ashes there were none but two survived

I stayed that night and one day after

Carried bodies to the river, wonder how I stayed alive

Thirteen stations of the cross to mark to their fall

I've had my say, I'll confess to nothing more

I'll join them now, those that left me long before

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri waters

Thirteen crosses high above the cold Missouri shore