Matt Shadows their lead singer says the song was written as per request from the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. Watching the initial trailers for the game & looking at production sketches reminded him of the 'S-Town' podcast & its main protagonist, John B. McLemore. Matt also comments specifically on the lyrics: "I decided that the lyrics would shadow McLemore's life." In 2012, antiquarian horologist John B. McLemore sent an email to the staff of the show 'This American Life' asking them to investigate an alleged murder in his hometown of Woodstock, Alabama, a place McLemore claimed to despise. After a year of exchanging emails & several months of conversation with McLemore, producer Brian Reed traveled to Woodstock to investigate. Reed investigated the crime & eventually found that no such murder took place, though he struck up a friendship with the depressed but colorful character of McLemore. He recorded conversations with McLemore & other people in Woodstock. McLemore killed himself by drinking potassium cyanide on June 22, 2015 while the podcast was still in production. In the narrative of the podcast, this occurs at the end of the second episode; subsequent episodes deal with the fallout from McLemore's death while exploring more of McLemore's life & character.
Well, it was out in California
By the San Diego Sea
That was when I was taken in
And it left its mark on me
Yeah, it nearly drove me crazy
'Cause I felt I had no choice
It seemed that I was only marking time
With all those sailor boys
Louisiana rain
Is falling at my feet
And I'm noticing a change
As I move down the street
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
South Carolina
Put out its arms for me
Right up until everything went black
Somewhere on a lonely street
And I still can't quite remember
Who helped me to my feet
Thank God for a long-neck bottle
The angel's remedy
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
Well, I never will get over
This English refugee
Singing to the Juke-Box
In some all-night beanery
Yeah, he was eating hard rock candy
And chasing it with tea
You sure should have seen him lick his lips
When he looked up at me
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
By the San Diego Sea
That was when I was taken in
And it left its mark on me
Yeah, it nearly drove me crazy
'Cause I felt I had no choice
It seemed that I was only marking time
With all those sailor boys
Louisiana rain
Is falling at my feet
And I'm noticing a change
As I move down the street
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
South Carolina
Put out its arms for me
Right up until everything went black
Somewhere on a lonely street
And I still can't quite remember
Who helped me to my feet
Thank God for a long-neck bottle
The angel's remedy
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
Well, I never will get over
This English refugee
Singing to the Juke-Box
In some all-night beanery
Yeah, he was eating hard rock candy
And chasing it with tea
You sure should have seen him lick his lips
When he looked up at me
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
Louisiana rain
Is soaking through my shoes
I may never be the same
When I reach Baton Rouge
Louisiana rain
Is falling just like tears
Running down my face
Washing out the years
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