The Ballad of the Mississippi

I wrote this ballad in the fall of 2013.  The photo above is taken from a spot along the levee near Tiptonville, Tennessee (where a lot of folks go to see the Bald Eagles). This is not the first song about this mighty river, nor will it be the last, but I felt compelled to share my own personal connection to this noble waterway.  I finally did write a melody, and plan to record it in the near future.  I’ve also added a new verse (now verse 3) in April of 2019.

THE BALLAD OF THE MISSISSIPPI
Larry Holder
(Copyright 2014, 2019 Larry Holder Music)

From northern Minnesota
Thru the port of New Orleans
By way of old St. Loui’
And Memphis, Tennessee
The river of my mem’ries
Is slowly ramblin’ on
She’s was flowin’ ‘fore I got here
She’ll be flowin’ when I’m gone.

I’ve seen her from the levee
And I’ve seen her from the bridge
I’ve stood along the riverside
And high upon the ridge
I’ve seen her in the floodstage
And I’ve seen her her waters low
Like minutes of each passing day
Her mighty waters flow.

I’ve seen her waters narrow
I’ve seen her waters wide
With mighty eagles soaring
Majestic ‘cross the sky
If ever there’s a river
That brings a voice to song
Oh, the mighty Mississippi
She keeps a-ramblin’ on
Yes, the mighty Mississippi
Forever ramblin’ on.

So carry on, you barges
As you float the flowing road
And all you sea-ward ships, now
As you haul your heavy load
And hail to you, riverboats
And tugboats, all the same
The river has a mem’ry
The river has a name.

From northern Minnesota
Thru the port of New Orleans
By way of old St. Loui’
And Memphis, Tennessee
The mighty Mississippi
Is slowly ramblin’ on
She’s was flowin’ ‘fore I got here
She’ll be flowin’ when I’m gone.