Story Behind The Song
Was trying to use the concept of "rivers" as examples of the "flow" of our lives, for better or worse.
Song Description
Set in turn of the century Mississippi Delta.. the story of a man who is searching for happiness only to find his addictions have him stuck in an endless limbo of repetive journeys on a river he cannot escape from ending in his ultimate demise.
| Song Length |
4:35 |
Genre |
Folk - Rural, Folk - Alternative |
| Tempo |
Medium Slow (91 - 110) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Passive |
Subject |
Life, Regret |
| Similar Artists |
Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
MISSISSIPPI RUN - music and lyrics by Richard C. (Kluso) Tollini © 2009
Well I found myself a little trouble way on down in New Orleans
Wasn't much a place for a Yankee boy like me
But I took a likin' to the livin' on a Mississippi river boat run
So I cadged me up a bender on board the Robert E. Lee
And I thought I'd go see my ol'Memphis girl who moved down Natchez way
Wondered now if she still even knew my name
But they was waiting for me on the banks of the river just north o' Baton Rouge
So I thought I'd take a swim find her another day
And I can't find my way off this ol' river
An that big wheel keeps on spinnin' around
Seems forever and a day I been on this Mississippi run
And its only a matter o' time before they take me down
Now I hustled my way up to Clarksville as a cotton belt tag along
And the dogwood scent recollected me of my home
But I heard ol' man river a calling me back on down to New Orleans
And I found myself on another Mississippi river boat run
But I found my ol' girl in Greenville and she stopped my wandering ways
Funny how a good woman can almost cure a man
But an alley cat can't help but feelin' caged when the moon is rising high
Just one more trip to feed the devil is all it takes
And I can't find my way off this ol' river
An that big wheel keeps on spinnin' around
Seems forever and a day I been on this Mississippi run
And its only a matter o' time before they take me down
well the man with the hat and the Derringer didn't take a likin' to my slight o'hand
And I found myself on the wrong end of a gun
An they say everything that comes around has gone once upon a time before
An there ain't no use disagreein' with a point like that
And I can't find my way off this ol' river
An that big wheel keeps on spinnin' around
Seems forever and a day I been on this Mississippi run
And its only a matter o' time before they 'd lay me down
And it'was only a matter o' time before they lay me down