Song of the year 2008 for houston songwriters association. it was written the summer before Katrina made landfall. I stayed in the Empress Hotel, which is on a northbound one-way street, about two blocks from the French Quarter. When you left the hotel you had to leave your room key, for if you lost it, someone else could read the tag and get into your room. this became the basis for the song. i was worried when katrina happened, and then relieved to hear that the Empress Hotel is still there today.