Apr 122011
In the recent Last Man Standing about river songs, the Mississippi was only allowed to be mentioned once because there are so many songs that reference it, which got me wondering: Are there more songs about the Mississippi than all other river songs combined? I doubt it but I call upon my fellow townsfolk to settle the issue. So, I’m looking for songs which either specifically mention the Mississippi, or that clearly reference it geographically.
I’ll start with “Big River.”
One Mississippi…
Sparks – “I Bought the Mississippi River”
I’m terrible at geography (and not much better at remembering lyrics): is “Proud Mary” about the Mississippi?
I think so because of the references to Memphis and New Orleans.
Tennessee Plates by John Hiatt
I’d say so. The song references Memphis and New Orleans and talks about the “big wheel” riverboats.
Mississippi Queen!
That’s probably it, right? You can award me the Last Man Standing. Thank you.
Last Man Standing? You underestimate me, sir.
Leon Redbone – “Mississippi River Blues”.
Nyah.
Mississippi Queen
whoops, i did not reload
Up On Cripple Creek has “straight on down the Mississippi River” as a lyric.
Evangeline by the Band – “She stands on the banks of the mighty Mississippi…”
And that should just about wrap it up.
Nope.
J.J. Cale – “Mississippi River”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQzy75CPLDs
Here’s one — I am not very proud of — Flesh by Aeorsmith
From the Mississippi River
To the highest mountain in Tibet
Everybody gotta have . . .
FLESH
Gary U.S. Bonds:
“Come on everybody take a trip with me
Down the Mississippi down to New Orleans…”
Ol’ Man River
Bob Dylan, Rambling Gambling Willie
Sailin’ down the Mississippi to a town called New Orleans
They’re still talkin’ about their card game on that Jackson River Queen
Doobie Brothers, “Black Water”
Janis Joplin – “Mississippi River” (not the JJ Cale song)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5ZIopVbtd4
I”m guessing “When the Levee Breaks” (choose your version) is a reference to the Mississippi.
Johnny Horton “The Battle of New Orleans”
“in eighteen and fourteen we took a little trip / along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip”
Randy Newman’s Louisiana 1927 covers the Great Mississippi Flood of, well, 1927. “Six feet of water in the streets of Evangeline.”
Randy Newman – “Louisiana 1927”. This makes reference to the disastrous flood of 1927 when the Mississippi broke through its levees, flooding 27,000 square miles in seven states and killing almost 250 people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED8AxNXwY_U
Tear Stained Eye by Son Volt. “St. Genevieve can hold back the water”
As mentioned in the previous river LMS, St. Genevieve is a town on the Mississippi that was almost flooded in 1993.
Mr. Royale suggests: “Peace in Mississipi” by Earth (or Hendrix, take your pick)
Speaking of Ty Segall, his song “Mrs” is in reference to the river.
Billy Lee Riley, Nitty Gritty Mississippi
There is a reference to the river in this song, but it’s surprising to me how often I’ll think of a song with Mississippi in the title or the lyrics only to discover it’s about the state not the river.