Story Behind The Song

I was born in Memphis, on the banks of the Mississippi, and I wanted to write a song about how important this magnificent river is, both to our country's history, and to our country's future.

Song Description

The Mississippi is a face of The Goddess Mother as is the Nile, or any other great river of the world, which gives life and embraces it at its end, rebirthing it in its next incarnation. It gives life to a huge part of our country, influencing the entire country, indeed, all of North America and the oceans of the earth as well.

Lyrics

Mississippi Mud
lyrics and music by Rainey Lewis
©2003 Treasure Island Music

When I get outta here tell you where I'm gonna go
Gonna go down where the dark waters flow
Down to Mississippi where the red dirt blows
And the kudzu grows on the sycamore groves

Cause Mississippi mud is in my blood
Mississippi mud is in my blood

When I get outta here tell you what I'm gonna do
Gonna get on down to the Mound Bayou
To itty Itta Bena near the Little Yazoo
Tippersville Tahatchie maybe Tupelo too

Cause Mississippi mud is in my blood
Mississippi mud is in my blood

M-i-double s-i-double s-i-double p-i
M-i-double s-i-double s-i-double p-

(instrumental section verse pattern at double time)

Cause Mississippi mud is in my blood
Mississippi mud is in my blood

Mississippi mud so rich and black
Get a feel of that mud and you'll always come back
It was there in the beginning
And forever will be
The richest banks are the banks of the Mississippi
Richest banks are the banks of the Mississippi

Mississippi mud has a tale to tell
Men have made it heaven yes and men have made it hell
But all God's children better rise above
Cause we'll all be going home to the Mississippi mud
All be going home to the Mississippi mud

When I get outta here tell you where I'm gonna be
Gonna be down where my soul can roll free
Like the waves on the water I can almost see
And the mud that put the Mighty in the Mississippi

Cause Mississippi mud is in my blood
Mississippi mud is in my blood

Mississippi mud my Beulah land
This little piece of heaven's where I'll make my stand
Where the dove brought Olive Branch down to earth
Mississippi mud is the place of my birth
Mississippi mud is the place of my birth

Mississippi mud is like a mother to me
Life comes from the mud of the Mississippi
Let's all join hands and feel the love
Cause someday we'll be together in the Mississippi mud
We will all come together in the Mississippi mud

M-i-double s-i -double s-i-double p-i (Mississippi mud)
M-i-double s-i -double s-i-double p-i (Is in my blood)

repeat to fade

end