Geoffrey Himes’ recent piece on Randy Newman’s “Louisiana 1927” appeared Sunday in the New York Times. The idea that it has become “Stagger Lee”-like in its ability to re-employed and rewritten since Katrina is an interesting one, but equally interesting is the thought not addressed. The song is the Battle Hymn of the Persecuted. They’re out to get us. They’re trying to wash us away. I recognize that “They’re putting almost every wealthy man and corporation’s interests ahead of protecting human life in New Orleans and they’ve been doing for over 50 years” doesn’t sing very well, but it’s closer to the truth. Still, we’re a city that has embraces conspiracies and sees malign intent somewhere behind everything that goes wrong, and it’s no surprise that we can turn paranoia into a warm, fuzzy sing-along.