Here's my transcription of one of the later recordings. Note that "darkies" had changed to "people" by 1954. I'm not sure who all the vocalists were at this point, but I'm pretty sure I heard Bing Crosby among them. The sung lines are interspersed with scat singing, which I have not bothered to annotate.


MISSISSIPPI MUD
As recorded by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, Dec. 7, 1954, Coral 61336.

When the sun goes down, the tide goes out,
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout:
"Hey, hey, Uncle Dud,
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud.
It's a treat to beat your feet on the Mississippi mud."

What a dance do they do!
Lordy, how I'm tellin' you!
They don't need no band.
They keep time by clappin' their hand(s).
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud,
When the people their feet on the Mississippi mud.

Lordy, how they play it!
Goodness, how they sway it!

How that music thrills me!
Wow, it nearly kills me!

REPEAT: What a dance ... etc.