OL' MISSISSIP'

Your vast waters have run down what is America’s back

Since the Ice Age of long ago cut the paths that you track

A permanent fixture on the face of this magnificent land

Back through history and all of time to where it all began

　

Your channel ever so wide; your waters so dark, and deep

Strike fear in those who come near the banks but do not leap

Your never-ending flow matches the passage of all history

A fluid giant of flowing motion offering both awe and mystery

　

Oh Mighty Mississippi, so long have your waters rolled

Down to the Gulf from your source at the far northern shoal

Long influencing those who come to your bluffs and banks

Men of history, adventurers, card sharks, Rebs and Yanks

　

Upon your waters explorers found their way to other places

To explore upon this land in you many nooks and spaces

Canoes, barges, and river boats rode upon your southern flow

To destinations near and far, wherever your waters may go

　

Mark Twain learned his skills here as a young riverboat man

Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, he imagined upon this vast span

Steam and paddle-wheelers navigated up and down your waters

Carrying passengers of all walks in stacked up sleeping quarters

　

Grant brought his Army of Illinois to fight and regain the south

Your waters witnessed the siege of Vicksburg, the hunger of mouths

Wars and hardships came and in time found their individual cure

Your waters kept on rolling as this history you did endure

　

Oh Mighty Mississippi, long have your waters ebbed n’ flowed

At times they have sped up and at other times they have slowed

The sun beats down upon you; takes your waters in evaporation

Rain drives the waters out of your banks flooding many locations

No matter how time and history changes, big muddy keeps the flow

Sending waters down your vast channels or wherever you choose to go

From the great northern Minnesota to the delta lands of New Orleans

Marking the history of American people and all their eyes have seen

　

Oh Might Mississippi, it seems your future is longer than your past

You will exist on this land long after mankind has breathed his last

And for each generation which comes and goes in this great land

There will always be men who stand in awe of your enormous span

　

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