Mavis Staples Lyrics
"Down In Mississippi"

Verse 1
As far back as I can remember
I either had a plow or hoe
One of those 'ole nine foot sacs
standing at the old turn row

(Chorus)
Down in Mississippi
Down in Mississippi
Down in Mississippi where I was born
Down in Mississippi where i come from

Verse 2
They had a hunting season on the rabbit
If you shoot em you went to jail
Season was a always open on me
Nobody needed no band

Chorus

Verse 3
I remember, I use to walk down that gravel road, walking with my grandma,
Mississippi sun, beaming down
I went to get some water

My grandma said, young 'un you can't drink that water,
she said you drink from that fountain over there, heha
and that fountain had a sign
said "for colored only"
I was so glad I had my grandma and my papa,
a huh, and I wont leave you out grandpa
My grandpa was so pround of me yall
I went down in forest Mississippi one time na,
didn't know no better, but i intergrated, a
washeteria
He was telling everybody, my grandbaby mavis,
she went up to washeteria and washed some clothes,
and all the black ladies followed her on up in there,
I'm proud of my grandbaby,
I saw many more of those signs as I lived in Mississippi,
I'm so glad I can say that I saw every one of those
signs, Dr. King saw that every one of those signs was
taken down, down in Mississippi

Chorus