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.

The Ballad of the Northwestern

larryholdermusic.org/northwestern.html

I wrote the initial lyrics July 2009 during a road trip from Seattle to Tennessee. Just 2 years earlier, I saw the Northwestern as it passed through the locks at the port of Seattle. Those of you who are familiar with the show “Deadliest Catch” will of course recognize this ship. I’m sure John Denver’s ballad “Calypso” and Gordon Lightfoot’s ballad “The Wreck of the Edmond Fitzgerald” were also inspirations, sharing what I call a “heavy 2-count” beat (6/8 time).

This was recorded with 3 vocal tracks, 2 guitar tracks, and a drum track. I play real drums, with no click track, which I think gives it a much more natural sound. Moderate compression was applied to each track, but no other effects. I considered adding mandolin at one point, but decided there was enough treble sound with the guitars. I also opted to minimize the “low end” by omitting bass guitar and quieting the kick drum (although I’ve recently been giving thought to adding a good bass line).

Play the MP3

Now out from Seattle with captain and crew
To make for the ocean, the brave and the few
A course for the Bering, where treasures abound
With blues skies above and the sea all around.

And dreams of the bounty are calling her name
The mighty Northwestern finds fortune and fame
As pots full of crab fill the salt water hold
So the hours pass by as the sea yields its gold.

And what makes a man turn his heart to the sea
Forsaking the land to be out in the free?
And risking it all to take hold of the prize?
There’s salt in their veins, there is fire in their eyes.

With thirty-eight meters from stem to the stern
For Sig and his brothers, a living they earn
In dangerous waters, in darkness and light
The challenge, it calls them, the goal is in sight.

The race for the prize leads the great vessel on
From greenhorn to captain, from dusk until dawn
No rest for the weary from wind and the waves
As ice floes she conquers and tempest she braves.

And what makes a man turn his heart to the sea
Forsaking the land to be out in the free?
And risking it all to take hold of the prize?
There’s salt in their veins, there is fire in their eyes.

God bless the Northwestern through calm and through gale
And be as a Beacon as onward she sails.
Bestow her the bounty for whom she is known
And guide her in safety to harbor and home.

And what makes a man turn his heart to the sea
Forsaking the land to be out in the free?
And risking it all to take hold of the prize?
There’s salt in their veins, there is fire…

Yes, and what makes a man turn his heart to the sea
Forsaking the land to be out in the free?
They risk everything to take hold of the prize
For there’s salt in their veins, there is fire in their eyes.

Copyright © 2012 Larry Holder (Larry Holder Music, ASCAP)