Here's to the State of Mississippi
Phil Ochs
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Here's to the state of Mississippi, For Underheath her borders, the devil draws no lines, If you drag her muddy river, nameless bodies you will find. whoa the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes, the calender is lyin' when it reads the present time. Whoa here's to the land you've torn out the heart of, Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of! And here's to the people of Mississippi Who say the folks up north, they just don't understand And they tremble in their shadows at the thunder of the Klan The sweating of their souls can't wash the blood from off their hands They smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And here's to the schools of Mississippi Where they're teaching all the children that they don't have to care All the rudiments of hatred are present everywhere And every single classroom is a factory of despair There's nobody learning such a foreign word as fair Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And here's to the cops of Mississippi They're chewing their tobacco as they lock the prison door Their bellies bounce inside them when they knock you to the floor No they don't like taking prisoners in their private little war Behind their broken badges there are murderers and more Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And, here's to the judges of Mississippi Who wear the robe of honor as they crawl into the court They're guarding all the bastions of their phony legal fort Oh, justice is a stranger when the prisoners report When the black man stands accused the trial is always short Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And here's to the government of Mississippi In the swamp of their bureaucracy they're always bogging down And criminals are posing as the mayors of the towns And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sounds And the speeches of the governor are the ravings of a clown Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And here's to the laws of Mississippi Congressmen will gather in a circus of delay While the Constitution is drowning in an ocean of decay Unwed mothers should be sterilized, I've even heard them say Yes, corruption can be classic in the Mississippi way Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of And here's to the churches of Mississippi Where the cross, once made of silver, now is caked with rust And the Sunday morning sermons pander to their lust The fallen face of Jesus is choking in the dust Heaven only knows in which God they can trust Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of Mississippi find yourself another country to be part of
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Written by: PHIL OCHS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
15 facts about this song
Release Date"Here's to the State of Mississippi" by Phil Ochs was released in 1965.
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MeaningThe song is a critique of the US state, propelling issues about racial segregation, political corruption, economic depression, and civil rights abuses during the 1960s.
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Version UpdateOchs revised the song in 1976 to critique the state of Richard Nixon's America, changing the references from Mississippi to the whole country.
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Album InclusionThe song is included in Ochs's third album titled "Phil Ochs in Concert," which is a compilation of recorded live performances.
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Song StyleThis song is a part of Ochs's socio-political collection, constituted in the style of 1960s American protest music.
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InfluenceOchs was influenced by the work of Woody Guthrie, a notable folk and protest singer, which is reflected in songs like "Here's to the State of Mississippi."
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Song's ImpactThe song was a part of the American civil rights movement, making it historically significant.
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GenreThe song falls into the folk music genre, characterized by its lyrical focus on social and political issues.
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WriterPhil Ochs not only sang but also wrote "Here's to the State of Mississippi," showcasing his skills as a songwriter too.
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Live PerformancesThe song was usually performed at protests and peaceful demonstrations, as a potent symbol of the socio-political unrest at the time.
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ControversyThe criticism vocally expressed in Phil Ochs's "Here's to the State of Mississippi" led to backlash from various conservative groups and institutions during the 1960s.
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LegacyThe song remains powerful and relevant as it speaks to systemic injustices that persist even today.
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InstrumentationThe song features a solitary guitar for accompaniment, typical of folk music of the era.
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Ochs's VoiceIn "Here's to the State of Mississippi," Ochs's voice has been praised for being clear and passionate, conveying the frustration and anger over the issues it addresses.
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Lyrics"Here's to the State of Mississippi" is renowned for its hard-hitting, poetic, and reflective lyrics in the tradition of protest songs.
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Citation
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"Here's to the State of Mississippi Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 9 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2832066/Phil+Ochs/Here%27s+to+the+State+of+Mississippi>.
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