The name of this tune is Mississippi Goddam
And I mean every word of it

Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

Can't you see it
Can't you feel it
It's all in the air
I can't stand the pressure much longer
Somebody say a prayer

Alabama's gotten me so upset
Tennessee made me lose my rest
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

This is a show tune
But the show hasn't been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail
School children sitting in jail
Black cat cross my path
I think every day's gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We all gonna get it in due time
I don't belong here
I don't belong there
I've even stopped believing in prayer

Don't tell me
I tell you
Me and my people just about due
I've been there so I know
They keep on saying "Go slow!"

But that's just the trouble
"do it slow"
Washing the windows
"do it slow"
Picking the cotton
"do it slow"
You're just plain rotten
"do it slow"
You're too damn lazy
"do it slow"
The thinking's crazy
"do it slow"
Where am I going
What am I doing
I don't know
I don't know

Just try to do your very best
Stand up be counted with all the rest
For everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

I made you thought I was kiddin'

Picket lines
School boy cots
They try to say it's a communist plot
All I want is equality
for my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years
You told me to wash and clean my ears
And talk real fine just like a lady
And you'd stop calling me Sister Sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies
You're all gonna die and die like flies
I don't trust you any more
You keep on saying "Go slow!"
"Go slow!"

But that's just the trouble
"do it slow"
Desegregation
"do it slow"
Mass participation
"do it slow"
Reunification
"do it slow"
Do things gradually
"do it slow"
But bring more tragedy
"do it slow"
Why don't you see it
Why don't you feel it
I don't know
I don't know

You don't have to live next to me
Just give me my equality
Everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi Goddam

That's it!




Whew!

Powerful song. I have her anthology on my wish-list.

CinisterCee said:

That's the one I have, I dig this song - her energy is incredible

Nina is so underated. I love her vocals.
I love "to be young gifted and black".
Also her version of "cherish" send chills
down my spine. Oh and lest we not forget
"Feelin' good". Is Mary J Blidge still
going to portray her?

You put me on a Nina kick today, I must have listened to Sinnerman 10 times!

jojofran said:

I think so

That Anthology is the best compilation so far. I mean there boxets but they're not exclusive as far as spanning her career. Probably coz she hasn't stayed in one label.

That anthology was the 1st thing I bought from her


The only thing missing song from there is her hair raising "Go To Hell".

This track is simply electrifying.

I love how it juxtaposes the upbeat, this-is-a-show-tune feel with the stifling grimness of the thematic content.

It fascinates me how Simone mingles the bitter-sweet melody with the emotive vocal delivery in her unique a call for a change.

This song is a national treasure.

Other great tracks by Simone that I like:

Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - this song makes me very melancholic. Again the lyrics and music don't seem to fit, but somehow this unlikely a combination makes perfect sense.

Strange Fruit - I can't listen to this song too often. It's too intense.

I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free - this is what I listen to when I'm down

Funkier Than A Mosquito's Tweeter - I L.O.V.E. this cover. It's so mesmerizing. Very under appreciated.

Young, Gifted and Black
Four Women
Sinnerman

plus many more

A true artist.

[Edited 2/5/07 10:09am]

rushing07 said:

Probably becoz it lost its wit when it got translated in English. Its originally a German(or Swedish) traditional folk song if I'm not mistaken.

She covers ALOT of traditional folks songs from different cultures.

Harlepolis said:

Wow. I didn't know that abut "Black Is The Color..." Thanks for the info. I need to look into that.

Sounds just like me. I've said it many times. I was born and raised in Mississippi and am still here. It's like Gilligan's Island, once you're here, you're stuck.

I will give Mississippi props for one thing though. When shit hop took over R&B, a lot of the older people switched to blues and there's a whole blues scene down here with a record label and new blues being made constantly. Even though it ain't my scene, I'm glad to see they didn't just lie down and accept shit hop taking over without doing something as an alternative to entertain themselves.
.
.
[Edited 2/5/07 14:38pm]

I just purchased this book from Amazon...

Harlepolis said:

I'm planning to buy it next month....can't wait.

Have you read this one?

Brian Ward Just my soul responding: Rhythm and Blues, black consciousness and race relations




It is probably the best book I've read on popular music. It also contains a section on Simone, if I remember correctlty.

It's much less chaty then the works of Mark Anthony, and much more insightfull then any of Guralnick's stuff.

I had my player working overtime today at work listening to Nina. I must have played this song and 4 Women at least 10x each. I remember my parents taking me to see her sing when i was just a kid.

More from Dr.Nina....

4 Women
http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=

Young, Gifted & Black
http://www.youtube.com/wa...ed&search=

House Of the Rising Sun/Go To Hell
http://www.youtube.com/wa...2aQIyz8B7Q

Nina "If I had it my way, I would've been a killer!"
http://www.youtube.com/wa...EX19zLQezU

Rushing; I saw that book collecting dust in my local book store I might check it out based on your recommendation
[Edited 2/6/07 8:17am]