Mississippi (Charlie Daniels song)

The lyrics of "Mississippi" have the singer thinking about his earlier times in the state of Mississippi. The Clarion-Ledger described the mood of the song as quiet and contemplative.{{cite news|title=Charlie's dad gave good advice|accessdate=2018-12-29|via=newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26622857/clarionledger_10jul79_p44/|newspaper=The Clarion-Ledger|date=July 10, 1979|page=44}} Bill Hance of Gannett News Service described it as a "bluesy ballad" that would appeal to older, more middle-of-the-road listeners than some of Daniels' earlier material.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|title=1979's been good to Charlie Daniels|accessdate=2018-12-28|author=Hance, Bill|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26615243/ithaca_journal_7dec79_p63/|newspaper=Ithaca Journal|date=December 7, 1979|page=63}}

According to Daniels, the melody he used happened to fit the 4 syllable name "Mississippi" and could have been applied to a different place name with 4 syllables, stating "I coulda made it Cincinnati except they ain't no Spanish moss hangin' from no live oak trees in Cincinnati."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|title=Daniels a Unique Breed|accessdate=2018-12-28|author=Hurst, Jack|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26615426/cincinnati_enquirer_2dec79_p100/|newspaper=Cincinnati Enquirer|date=December 2, 1979|page=100}}

"Mississippi" did not repeat the mainstream success of its predecessor "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" but it was nonetheless a success on the country music charts. It reached #19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the U.S. and performed even better on the Canadian country singles chart where it peaked at #3.{{cite news|title=Hot Country Singles|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|date=December 1, 1979|page=33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ECQEAAAAMBAJ&q=hot+country|accessdate=2018-12-29}}{{cite book|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|title=Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008|publisher=Record Research, Inc|year=2008|isbn=978-0-89820-177-2}}

It was also noted as one of the "1980 Most Performed Songs of the Year" by the BMI Awards.{{cite web|title=Charlie Daniels Band|url=http://www.wirthentertainment.com/charlie__daniels.htm|publisher=Wirth Entertainment|accessdate=2017-06-09}}

Billboard chose "Mississippi" as a recommended country music single.{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|date=September 29, 1979|page=71|newspaper=Billboard|accessdate=2020-07-07|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-09-29.pdf}} Cash Box said that "lush strings and piano, and soft, meandering vocals highlight this song that flows as smooth as the Mississippi."{{cite news|title=Country Reviews|date=September 22, 1979|page=34|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-09-22.pdf}} Record World said that compared to its predecessor, the band "slows the pace down with a warm, mellow tune" and that "The band shows its versatility here with a smooth vocal and instrumental style."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=September 22, 1979|accessdate=2023-02-11|title=Country Single Picks|page=83|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-09-22.pdf}} Gannett contributor Herb Ditzel praised "Mississippi" for expressing how much the singer misses Mississippi without resorting to "fancy guitars, piano or screeching vocals." He refers to "Mississippi" as Daniels' answer to "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|author=Ditzel, Herb|accessdate=2018-12-28|title=Charlie Daniels says he's been "rocked till he's ragged|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26615134/courierpost_16nov79_p98/|newspaper=Courier-Post|date=November 16, 1979|page=98}} Robert Christgau described it as a "sentimental reminiscence."{{cite web|title=The Charlie Daniels Band|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=The+Charlie+Daniels+Band|author=Christgau, Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|accessdate=2017-06-09}} Music critic Ronald Hawkings criticized the song for being too "saccharine."{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|title=On the Tracks|author=Hawkins, Ronald|accessdate=2018-12-28|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26614825/muncie_evening_press_28apr79_p28/|date=April 28, 1979|newspaper=Muncie Evening Press|page=28}}

"Mississippi" was included on Daniels' 1996 box set The Roots Remain.{{cite web|title=The Roots Remain|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-roots-remain-mw0000081319|author=Erlewine, Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2018-12-29}}

On April 25, 1979 – before it was released as a single – Daniels presented a special pressing of the song to Mississippi governor Cliff Finch.{{cite news|via=newspapers.com|accessdate=2018-12-29|title=Where It's At|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/26623135/northside_sun_19apr79_p13/|author=Warren, Sam|newspaper=Northside Sun|date=April 19, 1979|page=13}}

The b-side of "Mississippi" was "Passing Lane". Billboard described "Passing Lane" as " a consistently good mix of Southern rock/boogie," praising both the vocals and the instrumentation.{{cite news|title=Top Single Picks|newspaper=Billboard|page=71|accessdate=2020-07-08|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-09-22.pdf|date=September 22, 1979}} Cash Box called it a "kind of redneck blues-rock number" with "a witty lyric hook" and "strong instrumentation."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=September 22, 1979|page=20|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-09-22.pdf}} Record World called it a "tale spun over a blockbuster rhythm with nifty basslead duets."{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=September 22, 1979|accessdate=2023-02-11|title=Hits of the Week|page=1|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-09-22.pdf}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.charliedaniels.com/music?dd_id=17 Lyrics from Charlie Daniels' official site]
• {{YouTube|M1VgSLkypjg|Charlie Daniels - Mississippi}}

{{Charlie Daniels}}

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Category:1979 singles

Category:1979 songs

Category:Charlie Daniels songs

Category:Songs written by Charlie Daniels

Category:Epic Records singles

Category:Song recordings produced by John Boylan (record producer)

Category:Songs about Mississippi