Cash released her first single in 1979, a duet with Bobby Bare called "We Don't Need No Memories Hangin' 'Round". Two years later, she had her first country No. 1 (and the biggest commercial hit of her career), "Seven Year Ache". Although Cash was a prominent country star throughout the '80s, alongside fellow decade-defining artists Emmylou Harris, Juice Newton, and Dolly Parton, her music was anything but traditional: She topped the charts with songs written not only by herself, but by her father ("Tennessee Flat Top Box"), John Hiatt ("The Way We Make a Broken Heart"), Tom Petty ("Never Be You") and the Beatles ("I Don't Want to Spoil the Party"), "I Don't Know Why You Don't Want Me", which won her a Grammy in 1985, and "It's Such a Small World", a 1987 duet with Rodney Crowell on his album Diamonds & Dirt, provided further hits. A sampling of these songs and more are included on the compilation Hits 1979-1989. In 1979, she married Rodney Crowell, who was to produce most of her hit records. Their stormy marriage lasted until 1992; its break-up is chronicled in Cash's Interiors and in Crowell's album Life Is Messy. Cash later married John Leventhal, who produced her albums The Wheel, 10 Song Demo, Rules of Travel, and Black Cadillac.
To date, Cash has had more than twenty top 40 country singles, including eleven chart-toppers, but none since 1990, and she has left Nashville in both spirit and body to pursue her artistic vision. Although she had recorded all of her hits for Columbia Records' Nashville division, she released 10 Song Demo for the pop division of Capitol. Cash resurfaced in 2003 with Rules of Travel. The album features guest appearances by Sheryl Crow and Steve Earle, as well as a tune penned by Joe Henry and the Wallflowers' Jakob Dylan. Cash's latest album, entitled Black Cadillac, was released by Capitol Records in January 2006 to critical acclaim. Many of the songs were written by Cash and address the losses (within a 24-month span) of her step-mother, her father, her step-sister (Rosey Nix Adams) and then finally her mother on Cash's fiftieth birthday.
Miss the Mississippi and You
Rosanne Cash Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired of the glamor, tired of the size
I'm always dreaming of roaming once more
Back to my home on the old river shore
Days are dark and dreary everywhere I roam
How I long for Mississippi and you
Nothing seems to cheer me under heaven's door
Roaming the wide world over
Always alone and blue, so blue
I am sad and weary, longing to go home
Yes, I miss the Mississippi and you
Mockingbirds are singing 'round the cabin door
While I dream of Mississippi and you
And my memories are bringing happy days of yore
I have spent in Mississippi with you
Roaming the wide world over
Always alone and blue, so blue
Longing for my homeland on that muddy water shore
Yes, I miss the Mississippi and you
The Mississippi and you
In her song "Miss the Mississippi and You," Rosanne Cash paints a picture of longing for her roots while feeling lost in the big city lights. She yearns for the serenity of the Mississippi River and the comfort of familiar surroundings. The imagery of the mockingbirds singing around the cabin door and the memories of happy days spent in Mississippi offer a contrast to the darkness and dreariness of her current situation. The repetition of the line "I miss the Mississippi and you" emphasizes this longing and creates a sense of nostalgia.
The themes of homesickness and nostalgia are common in country music, but the specific reference to the Mississippi River holds special significance. The river has played an important role in American history, serving as a major trade route and site of cultural exchange. In this song, the Mississippi River represents not only a physical place, but also a connection to the singer's roots and heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm growing tired of the big city lights
I'm feeling exhausted by the bright and flashy city life.
Tired of the glamor, tired of the size
The glitz and the exaggerated nature of the city has become overwhelming.
I'm always dreaming of roaming once more
I constantly wish to be free and travel around again.
Back to my home on the old river shore
Returning to my roots and living by the familiar river shore is what I desire.
Days are dark and dreary everywhere I roam
The days are mundane and lonesome wherever I go.
How I long for Mississippi and you
I yearn for Mississippi, the place that comforts me the most, along with a particular someone.
Nothing seems to cheer me under heaven's door
Nothing brightens up my day or makes me feel content, no matter where I am.
How I miss the Mississippi and you
I miss the serenity and familiarity of Mississippi, and most importantly, the company of that one special someone.
Roaming the wide world over
Even though I've traveled far and wide,
Always alone and blue, so blue
I still feel incredibly lonely and melancholic.
I am sad and weary, longing to go home
My heart is heavy and I feel drained, desperate to head back to my beloved home.
Yes, I miss the Mississippi and you
My sadness and loneliness stem from missing Mississippi, and that one special person who resides there.
Mockingbirds are singing 'round the cabin door
The sound of the chirping mockingbirds around the house indicate just how homey and peaceful it is.
While I dream of Mississippi and you
I constantly dream of being in Mississippi and being together with that special person.
And my memories are bringing happy days of yore
My fondest memories are those of when I was in Mississippi, and these happy moments still reside within me.
I have spent in Mississippi with you
I cherish the time I've spent with you in Mississippi.
Longing for my homeland on that muddy water shore
I ache for my home back at the muddy riverbank, where Mississipi warmly holds me in her arms.
Yes, I miss the Mississippi and you
My homesickness and loneliness are not only for the Mississippi, but also for that one special person who resides there.
The Mississippi and you
The Mississippi and you, my beloved, are my heart and soul.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WILLIAM HEAGNEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind