When the Levee Breaks

This article is about the blues song. For the Spike Lee film, see When the Levees Broke. For the T.V. episode, see When the Levee Breaks (Supernatural). For dike failures, see Levee breach.
"When the Levee Breaks"
Single by Kansas Joe & Memphis Minnie
ReleasedAugust–September 1929
RecordedNew York City, June 18, 1929
GenreCountry blues
Length3:11
LabelColumbia
Songwriters
  • Kansas Joe McCoy
  • Memphis Minnie

"When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. In 2026 it was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in the 'Singles/album tracks' category.

"When the Levee Breaks" was re-worked by English rock group Led Zeppelin and became the final song on their untitled fourth album. Singer Robert Plant used many of the original lyrics. The songwriting is credited to Memphis Minnie and the individual members of Led Zeppelin. Many other artists have performed and recorded versions of the song.

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