It was widely believed, for many years, that Beiderbecke's real name was Leon Bismark Beiderbecke. It is now known that this — like so many other myths about Beiderbecke — is untrue. His real name was Leon Bix Beiderbecke. Bismark was a family name, reflecting the family's German origins, but it was not given to Beiderbecke. "Bix" was a family nickname of his father and older brother, given him as a proper name.
Leon Bix Beiderbecke was born in Davenport, Iowa to a middle-class family. As a teenager he would sneak off to the banks of the Mississippi to listen to the bands play on the riverboats that would come up from the south.
Partially due to frequent absences due to illness, Beiderbecke's grades suffered. His parents felt that sending him to the exclusive Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois, just northwest of Chicago, would provide the attention and discipline needed to improve his schooling.
Beiderbecke's schooling there soon suffered when the only subjects he showed avid interest in were music and sports. Bix soon began going into Chicago as often as possible to catch the hot jazz bands of the day at clubs and speakeasies around Chicago, and too often didn't return in time or was found out the next day.
Beiderbecke was soon asked to leave the Academy due to his academic failings and extra-curricular activities in Chicago, and began his musical career in earnest.
Beiderbecke first recorded with his band "The Wolverine Orchestra" (usually called just The Wolverines, named for "Wolverine Blues" by Jelly Roll Morton because they played it so often) in 1924, then became a sought-after musician in Chicago, Illinois and New York City, New York. He made innovative and influential recordings with Frankie Trumbauer ("Tram") and the Jean Goldkette Orchestra. When the Goldkette Orchestra disbanded after their last recording ("In My Merry Oldsmobile"), in May 1927, Bix and Trumbauer, a 'C' Melody and alto saxophone player, briefly joined Adrian Rollini's band at the Club New Yorker, New York, before moving on to the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, the most popular and highest paid band of the day.
Beiderbecke suffered health problems from an early age, though the relentless schedule of the road and heavy drinking leading to alcoholism began to contribute to and exacerbate a decline in his health. Bix suffered from severe pain in his legs and other ill effects of prohibition era alcohol and with declining work around the New York City area, he took a turn for the worse.
Though his death certificate described the cause of death as pneumonia, and he was in seriously ill health, the circumstances immediately surrounding his death are still unclear. He died at the age of 28, in his apartment at 43-30 46th Street, Sunnyside, Queens, within the confines of the City of New York on August 6, 1931.
Mississippi Mud
Bix Beiderbecke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud".
What a dance do they do!
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you
They keep time by clappin' their hand
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud,
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.
Lordy, how they play it!
Goodness, how they sway it!
Uncle Joe, Uncle Jim,
How they pound the mire with vigor and vim!
Joy! that music thrills me!
Boy! it nearly kills me!
What a show when they go!
Say! they beat it up either fast or slow.
When the sun goes down, the tide goes out,
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud".
What a dance do they do!
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you
They don't need no band
They keep time by clappin' their hand.
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud.
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.
The lyrics to "Mississippi Mud" by Bix Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer describe the excitement and joy of witnessing a dance party on the Mississippi River. As the sun goes down and the tide goes out, people gather around to shout and beat their feet on the mud. They clap their hands to keep the rhythm and do not need any musical accompaniment. They are happy and carefree, just like a cow chewing on its cud. The lyrics describe the scene in vivid detail, including references to various uncles who contribute to the energetic beat.
The song speaks to the power of music and dance to bring people together and create joy in even the simplest of settings. It celebrates the spirit of community and the joy of being alive. The lyrics suggest that life is best lived in the moment, without worrying about the future or the past. This message is conveyed through the joy and freedom that the dancers feel as they beat their feet on the mud, without any concern for anything else.
Line by Line Meaning
When the sun goes down, the tide goes out,
As night falls, the water level drops and reveals the muddy banks of the Mississippi river.
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
Crowds of people come together to enjoy the muddy banks and start cheering.
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
They greet their friend and dance partner, Uncle Dud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
Dancing on the muddy banks of the river is a unique and enjoyable experience.
What a dance do they do!
The dancers have a distinct style and move in a delightful manner.
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you
The experience of watching the dancers is truly something special.
They don't need no band
The dancers create their own rhythm without the need for musical accompaniment.
They keep time by clappin' their hand
The dancers synchronize their movements by clapping their hands in unison.
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud,
The dancers are thoroughly pleased and content with their experience on the muddy banks.
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.
The sound of the dancers stomping their feet on the muddy banks is a joy to hear.
Lordy, how they play it!
The dancers demonstrate an impressive skill and proficiency in their movements.
Goodness, how they sway it!
The dancers' movements are graceful and elegant.
Uncle Joe, Uncle Jim,
Other dancers are mentioned, indicating the community spirit of the event.
How they pound the mire with vigor and vim!
The dancers energetically stomp and move on the muddy ground.
Joy! that music thrills me!
The enthusiastic and rhythmic movements of the dancers inspire excitement and pleasure.
Boy! it nearly kills me!
The experience of watching the dancers is almost overwhelming with its intensity and enjoyment.
What a show when they go!
The performance of the dancers is impressive and entertaining.
Say! they beat it up either fast or slow.
The tempo of the dancers' movements can vary, but the enjoyment remains constant.
When the sun goes down, the tide goes out,
The cycle of the river continues to provide the perfect setting for the dance event.
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout,
The community of people continues to come together and share in the joy of the experience.
"Hey! Hey! Uncle Dud,
Uncle Dud continues to be the center of attention and celebration for the community.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi Mud.
The enjoyment and pleasure of dancing on the muddy banks of the Mississippi River is constantly celebrated and cherished.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: HARRY BARRIS, JAMES CAVANAUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind