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Transcript

"Mississippi Goddam"- Nina Simone

By: Alexandra Martinez

Nina Simone

February 21, 1933 - April 21, 2003

Born in Tryon, NC on February 21, 1933 by the name of Eunice Kathleen Waymon. She began playing piano at the age of 3 and played for her church. Her community raised money to send her to Julliard but she

wasn't accepted which she

claims was due to racism.

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Singer/Songwriter- Nina Simone

Lyrics

Southern was very segregated

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The name of this tune is Mississippi goddam

And I mean every word of it

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

Can't you see it

Can't you feel it

It's all in the air

I can't stand the pressure much longer

Somebody say a prayer

She wants someone to say a prayer because of the current social situation that doesn't seem like it will be fix without a miracle

Continuation...

Alabama's gotten me so upset

Tennessee made me lose my rest

And everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

This is a show tune

But the show hasn't been written for it, yet

Hound dogs on my trail

School children sitting in jail

Black cat cross my path

I think every day's gonna be my last

Lord have mercy on this land of mine

We all gonna get it in due time

I don't belong here

I don't belong there

I've even stopped believing in prayer

During the Civil Rights Movement there were police brutality such as dogs being set on people to attack them. The schools were segregated and there were cases of students being sent to jail for trying to attend a white school. It seems as though everything is bad and she is so unlucky that there was a black cat in her path. There was fear among African-Americans because they could be arrested and beaten for minor offenses.

Lyrics

She didn't need people telling

her that her people were being

mistreated

Everything was slow; segregation and discrimination, protesting and gaining rights

Lyrics

Don't tell me

I tell you

Me and my people just about due

I've been there so I know

They keep on saying 'Go slow!'

But that's just the trouble

'Do it slow'

Washing the windows

'Do it slow'

Picking the cotton

'Do it slow'

You're just plain rotten

'Do it slow'

You're too damn lazy

'Do it slow'

The thinking's crazy

'Do it slow'

Where am I going

What am I doing

I don't know

I don't know

Just try to do your very best

Stand up be counted with all the rest

For everybody knows about Mississippi goddam

Try to fight against segregation

but without violence; be patient

Types of protest included picket lines and boycotts of school,diners,buses.

If she behaved properly then she would be treated properly but that was just a lie.

Lyrics

She doesn't trust the country that is discriminating against her and telling her to go slow

I made you thought I was kiddin'

Picket lines

School boy cots

They try to say it's a communist plot

All I want is equality

For my sister my brother my people and me

Yes you lied to me all these years

You told me to wash and clean my ears

And talk real fine just like a lady

And you'd stop calling me Sister Sadie

Oh but this whole country is full of lies

You're all gonna die and die like flies

I don't trust you any more

You keep on saying 'Go slow!'

'Go slow!'

But that's just the trouble

'Do it slow'

Desegregation

'Do it slow'

Mass participation

'Do it slow'

Reunification

'Do it slow'

Do things gradually

'Do it slow'

But bring more tragedy

'Do it slow'

Why don't you see it

Why don't you feel it

I don't know

Everything was done slowly but violence continued...

Lyrics

White people don't

have to deal with her

or accept her, she wants to be treated equally and have the same opportunity but everybody knows about the worst discrimination in the South.

You don't have to live next to me

Just give me my equality

Everybody knows about Mississippi

Everybody knows about Alabama

Everybody knows about Mississippi goddam, that's it

"Mississippi Goddam"

Mississippi Goddam displays Nina Simone's frustration, fear, and anger towards the steady and exhausting civil rights movement.

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Meaning Behind The Song

This song was influenced by the events of the Birmingham Church bombing, and the assassination of the Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers, it led to her to create a raw and powerful song and even in today's world this song it use as an anthem which has made HISTORY.

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Affects Of The Song

The releasing of this song and performances of it had gave a strong message of how Nina Simone felt about the discriminating racial dividing. The emotions she had felt had been release and created a powerful and significant song that is now a truly unforgettable protest song.

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