PHOTOS (some graphic): "MISSISSIPPI GODDAMN"

Lyrics by the late, great Nina Simone, who I am sure would say Louisiana Goddamn after this week as well.

=========

The name of this tune is Mississippi Goddamn.
And I mean every word of it.


Alabama's got me so upset.
Tennessee made me lose my rest.
And everybody knows about Mississippi Goddamn.

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...

This is a show tune
But the show hasn't been written for it yet....


Hound dogs on my trail
Schoolchildren sitting in jail


Black cat crossed my path
I think every day's gonna be my last


Lord have mercy on this land of mine
We're all gonna get it in due time


I don't belong here I don't belong there
I've even stopped believing in prayer


Don't tell me I tell you
Me and my people just about do
I've been there so I know
Keep on saying GO SLOW


But that's just the trouble TOO SLOW

Washing the windows TOO SLOW
Picking the cotton TOO SLOW
You're just plain rotten TOO SLOW

Too damn lazy TOO SLOW

Thinking's crazy TOO 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
'Cause everybody knows about Mississippi Goddamn.


I bet you thought
I was kidding didn't you?....

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 anymore

You keep on saying go slow go slow

But that's just the trouble: TOO SLOW!

Desegregation TOO SLOW!
Mass participation TOO SLOW!
Unification TOO SLOW!
Do things gradually TOO SLOW!

Will bring more tragedy TOO SLOW!

Why don't you see it? Why don't you feel it?

I don't know I don't know....
You don't have to live next to me,
just give me my equality.
.
.
.

And everybody knows about Mississippi
Everybody knows about Alabama
Everybody knows about Mississippi Goddamn.
That's it.


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(Thanks to fellow DUer alcibiades_mystery who inspired this.)

From mediabistro:

Anderson Cooper kept talking about the bodies on Monday's 360.

> "You find bodies just floating in the water. There's a man over there who's dead on the top of a car."

> "The water is, as it recedes, I mean, it is going to reveal an awful lot of bodies, people inside their homes. You even see them now just floating out on the street one week after this hurricane hit. And it is still hard to believe the things you see every day."

> "Heartbreaking too is the grim task ahead of the three mortuary teams now in place in New Orleans. It's their job to recover the bodies, which seem to be everywhere, floating in canals, abandoned on roadsides, still hidden in flooded homes."

> "We were out there today in a shallow-bottomed boat. And what we saw was just -- I mean, it continues to just be horrific, bodies floating in the water, dogs drinking this water, dogs dead in the water, dogs starving to death."

I'm seeing a lot of dogs on TV, but not a lot of bodies. I think I saw two during 360. How are news organizations reaching their decisions about showing bodies? Why aren't more still photos being shown?

http://www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser/

showed bodies.

Did anyone else notice that the news channels started showing them last night as well? Is it becasue Oprah broke the barrier? It seemed like it to me.

staggering.

Thank you.

...Nina Simone...

Of course, Nina was known for chastising audience mebers for making noise, even in the middle of Carnegie Hall: "I'm playin' up here, boy. Ain't you got no sense?" I shit you not. Nina at Carnegie Hall, May or June 2000.

Thanks for posting that. I love this tune and I have the cd with this song. Too slow.. too slow.. damn!

I think that I am recovering from the shock, that this dumb ass bastard did, and then I see your compilation, and its back. BBC1 did a similar program tonight, put everything together with a time line. I am just heartsick.

Welcome to DU. It is heartbreaking. We will get through this with each other and I am glad you're here.

But got no responses, prolly cuz I didn't link it to these brilliant photos. Great photo essay! Nice work.

No wonder I didn't remember your name lol! But you are indeed the one.

and so heart breaking, this whole god damned thing is beyond belief.
Thanks for posting this, nominated

in a thread about Billie Holiday last night!

But the song in my head has been "This Is Not America" from the Falon and the Snowman.

But another thread reminded me that Langston Hughes already told us it never was.

Mississippi Goddamn just says it all.

It MUST be.

we've got to be ready.

I shudder. I just shudder at the thought.

heartbreaking truth. :cry:

:hug:

Where'd you find that God-awful picture of Babs? Blecch!

Going to put that CD on right now

You make us cry, but you keep us in touch with our humanity. And that's what really matters.

That's why the freepers are immune. They're hollow.

we miss you.

Powerful words with perfect images.

"As much as things change, they still remain the same." Is that the saying, I can't remember.

I hope it was cathartic for you. At least a little bit.

I've bookmarked this thread, but you need to get this somewhere more visible and permanent.

the arts express so much when other words just fail you, eh?

it makes me feel DAMN good to know I'm not crazy. And to know that you and others know this song and know you're not crazy - well, that's what the arts are for. To make you know you are not alone.

demonstrated by bluebear and alcibades - demonstrating how art serves humanity,
in a way far better than religion serves humanity.
Didn't the supreme god promise no more floods?
Must be some loophool allowing one tsunami at a time...

http://news.globalfreepress.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=95

thanks for sharing :toast:

peeace

from one sad Nina fan.

------------------------------------------------------
Save the Gulf:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=106&topic_id=22507&mesg_id=22507

Then save the nation!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

Thank Nina..... my gosh how much more can we stand?

just wow. So many talented people on DU.

I'm speechless.........

n/t

:hug: :hug: :hug:

Nominated, as if it needed it.

Just so I could bask in the contentment of imagining Chimpy, Condasleazy, Rove, FEMA, and all the rest rotting there for eternity.


Wonderful, if heartbreaking and infuriating, gallery of photos. Bravo :cry: :applause:

:kick:

...thank you from the bottom of my broken heart, bluebear and alcibiades_mystery.

Cannot be more highly recommended.

:cry: :hug: :cry:

thanks for posting it.

Oh - and the rest wasn't too shabby, either!

Simply, wow.

I've read through your post three times and I'm awestruck.

The photos bring tears to my eyes, but my brothers and sisters on DU bring me hope.

:cry:

I would hate to think I might have missed this truly great post.

Very moving and sad that these images are of American citizens in America.

PS - Hope you got your TF stocked up - when/if the you-know-what hits, here's our preview of the "help" we'll get. ;)

:yourock: