The United States of Songs: Mississippi

Friday, October 28, 2011

If you’re unfamiliar with my weekly project, The United States of Songs, take a look at some previous installments. Explaining it every week is getting kind of tedious and repetitive. This week we’re heading down south to the great state of Mississippi!

The state: Mississippi
The song: “Here’s to the State of Mississippi” by Phil Ochs

Okay, you’re mad already. I can respect that. But hear me out. First off, it’s a great song: simple, soulful, and direct. Yes, it’s not a tourism guide kind of song; it would make you think Mississippi’s a terrible place, but it’s not. Well, it’s a better place than it was when was this written. And that’s why I went with it, because as much bad press as Mississippi (and the South in general) got and continue to get on issues like civil rights and corruption, the fact that we hear about it and are aware of it means someone is bringing it to light and fighting it as best they can. And those people are in Mississippi, too.

I’ve been through Mississippi several times, and I’ve never had any trouble. Granted I was a young white male, but I had a good time regardless. And before you say it, I totally agree: Mississippi should’ve had a blues song. The problem I ran into was I couldn’t find the right blues song with the state name in the title. If you’ve got the blues, though, you CAN find plenty of AMAZING blues musicians with “Mississippi” in their name. Start with Mississippi John Hurt, if you don’t know him already. And the blues is only ONE of the great things about The Magnolia State. There’s the great Gulf beaches, sprawling forests, amazing Native American cultural history, Slug Burgers, humidity if you’re into that sort of thing, uh…Southern Baptists, less litter than Louisiana and Kentucky, the list goes on!

There is one slightly awkward part…

So okay, it might not be a happy fun song about your state, but at the very least you can hang your head high that you INSPIRED such a great song, right Mississippi? And y’know, maybe take it as constructive criticism.

Runner-Up: “Mississippi Goddam” by Nina Simone
Most Ridiculous Suggestion: “Mississippi” by Pussycat

Are you offended on behalf of the good people of Mississippi? Got a better idea for a song? Want to suggest something for next week’s take on Missouri? Let us know in the comments below!

Flickr photo 20110619_4997111_untitled.jpg by Dan Roberts used under a Creative Commons License.

Woot! – One Day, One Deal