Missouri
Merle Travis Lyrics
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The old red school I went to with the little girl next door
I see that stopper bobbin' when the catfish start to bite
I see a blue sky framin' little clouds of snowy white
Missouri, I hear you callin' me
Missouri, you'll never let me be
Missouri, I know I can't be free
My heart will yearn till I return
In memory I still can see that oak tree on the lawn
And hear again the birds as sing and woke me at the dawn
And I remember mornings when I told my mother lies
So I could have a second helping of her apple pies
Missouri, I hear you callin' me
Missouri, you'll never let me be
Missouri, I know I can't be free
My heart will yearn till I return
Missouri's callin' me
The lyrics to Merle Travis's song "Missouri" evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and longing for the singer's hometown. The opening lines express a deep longing to see their old hometown once more, particularly the old red school and the childhood friend who lived next door. The mention of the stopper bobbin' and catfish biting paints a picture of the peaceful and familiar scenes of Missouri. The vivid imagery of a blue sky with clouds of snowy white creates a sense of serenity and beauty.
The chorus emphasizes the strong connection the singer feels to Missouri, with the repetition of "Missouri, I hear you callin' me". The repetition of this line reveals the irresistible pull the state has on the singer's heart. Despite acknowledging that they can never be truly free from the longing for their homeland, they know they will always yearn to return. The mention of specific memories, such as the oak tree on the lawn and the chorus of birds in the morning, further emphasizes the deep emotional attachment and sense of belonging to Missouri.
Line by Line Meaning
I often wish that I could see my old hometown once more
I frequently long to visit my childhood town again
The old red school I went to with the little girl next door
The nostalgic red school where I attended classes alongside the girl who lived nearby
I see that stopper bobbin' when the catfish start to bite
I envision the bobber moving when the catfish are attracted to the bait
I see a blue sky framin' little clouds of snowy white
I visualize a sky in shades of blue with fluffy white clouds
Missouri, I hear you callin' me
Missouri, I sense your beckoning
Missouri, you'll never let me be
Missouri, you will always have a hold on me
Missouri, I know I can't be free
Missouri, I understand I cannot escape your influence
My heart will yearn till I return
My heart will ache until I come back
Missouri's callin' me
Missouri is calling out to me
In memory I still can see that oak tree on the lawn
In my recollection, I can still visualize the oak tree situated on the yard
And hear again the birds as sing and woke me at the dawn
And once more, I can hear the harmonious melodies of the birds waking me up at daybreak
And I remember mornings when I told my mother lies
I recall deceptive mornings when I lied to my mother
So I could have a second helping of her apple pies
In order to indulge in an additional portion of her apple pies
Missouri, I hear you callin' me
Missouri, I sense your beckoning
Missouri, you'll never let me be
Missouri, you will always have a hold on me
Missouri, I know I can't be free
Missouri, I understand I cannot escape your influence
My heart will yearn till I return
My heart will ache until I come back
Missouri's callin' me
Missouri is calling out to me
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: HARRY "SLIM" DUNCAN, HANK PENNY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind