"Here's to the State of Mississippi" is a civil rightsprotest song by Phil Ochs, an American topical singer and songwriter in the 1960s. Ochs is best known for his anti-war and freedom songs. "Here's to the State of Mississippi" was released in 1965 as the last track on his album I Ain't Marching Anymore. The song criticizes the state of Mississippi for its oppression of African Americans. It describes how Jim Crow laws and white supremacy in the South maintained the inequality of African Americans in states such as Mississippi. "Here's to the State of Mississippi" touches on segregation, corrupt and biased school systems, the frequent murders of African Americans and civil rights activists and the crookedness of government officials who ignored or collaborated in the murders.
Ochs was inspired to write this song following a visit to the state as a volunteer for the Mississippi Caravan of Music.[1] The Caravan worked in conjunction with Freedom Summer, a volunteer-based campaign that began in June 1964.[2] The campaign aimed to register black voters in a place where the voting rights for blacks were nearly non-existent. The Caravan supported the mission of Freedom Summer through motivational songs and participation in campaign projects throughout the state.[3]
Ochs was deeply affected by what he saw and experienced in Mississippi. One incident in particular that shook the Freedom Summer campaign were the murders of Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner. Within the first month of the Freedom Summer campaign, civil rights activists, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were arrested in Philadelphia, Mississippi. The three were released after a few hours. However, as they drove through Neshoba County, Mississippi later that day, they were pulled over again and abducted by officers working with the Ku Klux Klan. The three were reported missing and an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) investigation began with a large-scale search of the area. The investigation revealed that the activists were beaten and shot to death. Their bodies were found buried beneath a dam.
Ochs sings, "If you drag her muddy rivers, nameless bodies you will find," which refers to the FBI's search for Chaney, Goodman, and Schwerner. While searching for the three civil rights activists, Navy divers and FBI agents found the mangled bodies of Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee, both 19-year-old men who had been kidnapped, beaten and tortured, and then dropped alive into the Mississippi River by Klan members a month earlier. They also found the bodies of 14-year-old Herbert Oarsby and five other African Americans who remain unidentified; none of their kidnappings had attracted attention outside their local communities.[4]
Phil Ochs released the song "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon" as a single in 1974.[5] Ochs replaces 'Mississippi' with 'Richard Nixon' in the lyrics. Ochs also changed some verses to reflect criticisms about the Nixon administration.
^Hornaday, Ann (April 30, 2010). "Movie Review: 'Soundtrack for a Revolution'". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
^Eder, Bruce. "What's That I Hear?: The Songs of Phil Ochs – Various Artists". AllMusic. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
^"Pearl Jam Tells Its 'Story' at VH1 Taping". Billboard. June 2, 2006. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
External linksedit
"Here's to the State of Mississippi" on YouTube
April 14, 2024
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Here s to the State of Mississippi is a civil rights protest song by Phil Ochs an American topical singer and songwriter in the 1960s Ochs is best known for his anti war and freedom songs Here s to the State of Mississippi was released in 1965 as the last track on his album I Ain t Marching Anymore The song criticizes the state of Mississippi for its oppression of African Americans It describes how Jim Crow laws and white supremacy in the South maintained the inequality of African Americans in states such as Mississippi Here s to the State of Mississippi touches on segregation corrupt and biased school systems the frequent murders of African Americans and civil rights activists and the crookedness of government officials who ignored or collaborated in the murders Here s to the State of Mississippi Song by Phil Ochsfrom the album I Ain t Marching AnymoreReleased1965Length6 02LabelElektraSongwriter s Phil OchsOchs was inspired to write this song following a visit to the state as a volunteer for the Mississippi Caravan of Music 1 The Caravan worked in conjunction with Freedom Summer a volunteer based campaign that began in June 1964 2 The campaign aimed to register black voters in a place where the voting rights for blacks were nearly non existent The Caravan supported the mission of Freedom Summer through motivational songs and participation in campaign projects throughout the state 3 Ochs was deeply affected by what he saw and experienced in Mississippi One incident in particular that shook the Freedom Summer campaign were the murders of Chaney Goodman and Schwerner Within the first month of the Freedom Summer campaign civil rights activists James Chaney Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were arrested in Philadelphia Mississippi The three were released after a few hours However as they drove through Neshoba County Mississippi later that day they were pulled over again and abducted by officers working with the Ku Klux Klan The three were reported missing and an FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation investigation began with a large scale search of the area The investigation revealed that the activists were beaten and shot to death Their bodies were found buried beneath a dam Ochs sings If you drag her muddy rivers nameless bodies you will find which refers to the FBI s search for Chaney Goodman and Schwerner While searching for the three civil rights activists Navy divers and FBI agents found the mangled bodies of Charles Eddie Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee both 19 year old men who had been kidnapped beaten and tortured and then dropped alive into the Mississippi River by Klan members a month earlier They also found the bodies of 14 year old Herbert Oarsby and five other African Americans who remain unidentified none of their kidnappings had attracted attention outside their local communities 4 Contents 1 Adaptation 2 Cover versions 3 Additional civil rights songs by Phil Ochs 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAdaptation edit nbsp Here s to the State of Richard NixonPhil Ochs released the song Here s to the State of Richard Nixon as a single in 1974 5 Ochs replaces Mississippi with Richard Nixon in the lyrics Ochs also changed some verses to reflect criticisms about the Nixon administration Cover versions editArtist Appearance YearEugene Chadbourne To Phil 1998 6 Wyclef Jean Soundtrack for a Revolution 2009 7 Katy Moffatt What s That I Hear The Songs of Phil Ochs 1998 8 Pearl Jam VH1 Storytellers 2006 9 Additional civil rights songs by Phil Ochs edit The Ballad of Medgar Evers 1964 William Moore 1964 The Ballad of Oxford mid 1960s Going Down To Mississippi mid 1960s Colored Town mid 1960s Days of Decision 1965 Love Me I m a Liberal 1966 See also editCivil rights movement in popular cultureReferences edit Bowser K Director n d Phil Ochs There But For Fortune Video file Retrieved February 20 2018 from https www hoopladigital com play 10023677 Eyerman Ron 1998 Music and Social Movements Mobilizing Traditions in the Twentieth Century New York NY Cambridge University Press p 101 Cohen Robert Bob February 19 2018 The Mississippi Caravan of Music Broadside Magazine Lynching of Chaney Schwerner amp Goodman Civil Rights Movement Archive Phil Ochs Here s To The State Of Richard Nixon Power And Glory Discogs 1974 Retrieved February 19 2018 Jurek Thom Songs Eugene Chadbourne AllMusic Retrieved May 7 2016 Hornaday Ann April 30 2010 Movie Review Soundtrack for a Revolution The Washington Post Retrieved May 7 2016 Eder Bruce What s That I Hear The Songs of Phil Ochs Various Artists AllMusic Retrieved May 7 2016 Pearl Jam Tells Its Story at VH1 Taping Billboard June 2 2006 Retrieved May 7 2016 External links edit Here s to the State of Mississippi on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Here 27s to the State of Mississippi amp oldid 1171419206, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
