Mississippi, You're On My Mind
Mississippi has produced several of the greatest artists in the world--particularly in music and literature. Many provocative songs have been inspired by our state--some quite negative and justifiably so (Mississippi Goddamn by Nina Simone in 1964)--but IMHO, the most poetically evocative was written by Jesse Winchester. Mississippi, You're On My Mind. Sadly, this gifted songwriter died of cancer in 2014, the year his final album was produced by Mississippi legend Mac McAnally. In my my view (and Mac's), this song should be made the state song of Mississippi.
That said, my favorite version is probably Jerry Jerry Jeff Walker's 1975 track (sooo laid back), but Jesse's original version is purer, and I'm posting links to both here. There's also a Link to a wonderful live performance of the song on Gulf Shores beach with Jimmy Buffett and Allen Toussaint. Tragically, with Jimmy's passing this year, all these three greats are gone now. But thankfully, their music remains. (How good was Jesse Winchester? The producers of The Wire used his "Step By Step" as background for the final montage of Season One.) Search the montage video on YouTube. To show both sides of history, I've also included a Link for Nina's Simone's in-your-face version of her complex but ultimately searing protest song.
JESSE WINCHESTER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb7e-aj2ZAo
JERRY JEFF WALKER
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPFPU-PmwqE
JIMMY, JESSE, ALLEN TOUSSAINT at GULF SHORES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-w5J4vOt6c
NINA SIMONE (Mississippi Goddamn)
