On the Mississippi
Words by Ballard MacDonald, Music by Harry Carroll and Arthur Fields
Words by Ballard MacDonald, Music by Harry Carroll and Arthur Fields
The original lyrics have been retained for historical accuracy, in spite of some racist content.
Verse 1: In my dreams I seem to hear a whistle shrill,
Like the whippoorwilling of the whippoorwill,
In my ears I hear it ringing,
And the past to me it is bringing,
It reminds me of the dear old Mississipp',
When I loaded cotton on that sternwheel ship,
Roustabout, knocked about,
They were the happy days, there's no doubt.
Like the whippoorwilling of the whippoorwill,
In my ears I hear it ringing,
And the past to me it is bringing,
It reminds me of the dear old Mississipp',
When I loaded cotton on that sternwheel ship,
Roustabout, knocked about,
They were the happy days, there's no doubt.
Chorus: On the Mississippi, on the Mississippi,
Where those boats go puffin' along,
On the Mississippi, darkies all go dippy,
When they hear a little bit of ragtime melody.
It seems I hear them singing, see them buck and winging,
To the banjos ringing, oh my heart is clinging
To the Mississippi, dear old Mississippi,
That's where I was born.
Where those boats go puffin' along,
On the Mississippi, darkies all go dippy,
When they hear a little bit of ragtime melody.
It seems I hear them singing, see them buck and winging,
To the banjos ringing, oh my heart is clinging
To the Mississippi, dear old Mississippi,
That's where I was born.
Verse 2: I just have to close my eyes to see that sight,
River all a-glist'ning in the bright moonlight,
With my gal again I'm strolling,
And her eyes at me they are rolling,
All along the levee see those darkies prance,
Listen to the music, watch that shufflin' dance,
Lordy me, can't you see,
That there is only one place for me?
River all a-glist'ning in the bright moonlight,
With my gal again I'm strolling,
And her eyes at me they are rolling,
All along the levee see those darkies prance,
Listen to the music, watch that shufflin' dance,
Lordy me, can't you see,
That there is only one place for me?
Chorus: On the Mississippi, on the Mississippi,
Where those boats go puffin' along,
On the Mississippi, darkies all go dippy,
When they hear a little bit of ragtime melody.
It seems I hear them singing, see them buck and winging,
To the banjos ringing, oh my heart is clinging
To the Mississippi, dear old Mississippi,
That's where I was born.
Where those boats go puffin' along,
On the Mississippi, darkies all go dippy,
When they hear a little bit of ragtime melody.
It seems I hear them singing, see them buck and winging,
To the banjos ringing, oh my heart is clinging
To the Mississippi, dear old Mississippi,
That's where I was born.
