Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)

Subject: Lyr Add: HERE'S TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI (Ochs)
From: Greg F.
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 10:47 AM

HERE'S TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
   -Phil Ochs (1963?)

1. Here's to the state of Mississippi,
For underneath her borders, the devil draws no line.
If you drag her muddy rivers, nameless bodies you will find.
Oh, the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes.
The calendar is lying when it reads the present time.

CHORUS: Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of.
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

2. And here's to the people of Mississippi,
Who say the folks up north, they just don't understand,
And they tremble in the shadows at the thunder of the Klan.
Oh, the sweating of their souls can't wash the blood from off their hands,
For they smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man.

3. And here's to the schools of Mississippi,
Where they're teaching all the children that they don't have to care.
All of rudiments of hatred are present everywhere,
And every single classroom is a factory of despair,
And there's nobody learning such a foreign word as fair.

4. And here's to the cops of Mississippi.
They're chewing their tobacco as they lock the prison door,
And their bellies bounce inside them when they knock you to the floor.
No, they don't like taking prisoners in their private little war,
And behind their broken badges there are murderers and more.

5. And here's to the judges of Mississippi,
Who wear the robe of honor as they crawl into the court.
They're guarding all the bastions of their phony legal fort.
Oh, justice is a stranger when the prisoners report.
When the black man stands accused, the trial is always short.

6. And here's to the government of Mississippi.
In the swamp of their bureaucracy they're always bogging down,
And criminals are posing as the mayors of the towns,
And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sounds,
And the speeches of the governor are the ravings of a clown.

7. And here's to the laws of Mississippi.
Congressmen will gather in a circus of delay.
While the Constitution's drowning in an ocean of decay.
Unwed mothers should be sterilized, I've even heard them say.
Yes, corruption can be classic in the Mississippi way.

8. And here's to the churches of Mississippi,
Where the cross, once made of silver, now is caked with rust,
And the Sunday morning sermons pander to their lust.
Oh, the fallen face of Jesus is choking in the dust,
And heaven only knows in which God they can trust.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's To The State of Mississippi
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 05:34 PM

Can't believe this wasn't already there, man, what a bitter, bitter song. Love it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's To The State of Mississippi
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 06:05 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBiAtwQZnHs&feature=related
Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's To The State of Mississippi
From: bobad
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 07:34 PM

Watergate inspired Phil to rewrite the song as:

Here's to the state of Richard Nixon
And Billy Graham
Where the Sunday morning sermon
Panders to their lust
And the fallen face of Jesus is chokin' in the dust
And God alone can know in which God they can trust

And here's to the government of Richard Nixon
In the swamp of their bureaucracy they're always bogging down
And criminals are posing as advisors to the crown
And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sounds
And the speeches of a Spiro are the ravings of a clown

Here's to the land you've tore out the heart of
Richard Nixon, find yourself another country to be part of.

Subject: ADD: Here's To The State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 26 Oct 09 - 08:23 PM

The spelling is better at http://www.folkarchive.de/heresto.html, for example, "underneath," not "underheath," and "calendar," not "calender."

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HERE'S TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
(Phil Ochs)

Here's to the state of Mississippi --
For underneath her borders the devil draws no line;
If you drag her muddy rivers, nameless bodies you will find.
Oh, the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes;
The calendar is lying when it reads the present time.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the people of Mississippi --
Who say the folks up north, they just don't understand;
And they tremble in the shadows at the thunder of the Klan;
Oh, the sweating of their souls can't wash the blood from off their hands
Where they smile and shrug their shoulders at the murder of a man.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the schools of Mississippi --
Where they're teaching all the children that they don't have to care,
All the rudiments of hatred are present everywhere,
And every single classroom is a factory of despair,
And there's nobody learning such a foreign word as "fair."
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the cops of Mississippi --
They're chewing their tobacco as they lock the prison door,
And their bellies bounce inside them when they knock you to the floor;
No, they don't like takin' prisoners in their private little wars,
And behind their broken badges. they are are murderers and more.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the judges of Mississippi --
Who wear the robe of honor as they crawl into the court,
They're guardin' all the bastions of their phony legal fort;
Oh, justice is a stranger when the prisoners report,
When the black man stands accused, the trial is always short.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the government of Mississippi --
In the swamp of their bureaucracy, they're always bogging down,
And criminals are posing as the mayors of the towns;
And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sounds,
And the speeches of the governor are the ravings of a clown.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the laws of Mississippi --
Congressmen will gather in a circus of delay,
While the Constitution's drowning in an ocean of decay;
"Unwed mothers should be sterilized," I've even heard them say;
Yes, corruption can be classic in the Mississippi way.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the churches of Mississippi --
Where the cross, once made of silver, now is caked with rust,
And the Sunday morning sermons pander to their lust;
Oh, the fallen face of Jesus is choking in the dust,
And Heaven only knows in which God they can trust.
Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of --
Mississippi, find yourself another country to be part of!

This song might be subtitled Farewell to Mississippi, for in order to write a few more songs like this, it might be wiser for me to stay away for a while. I was down there last summer and must admit that I met some nice people and that the state isn't as bad as my song implies, unless you are a Negro who has forgotten his place, or unless your last name was Chaney, Goodman, or Schwerner.

Phil Ochs, liner notes for "I Ain't Marching Anymore" (Elektra EKS-7287), 1964

Lyrics transcribed by Manfred Helfert from "I Ain't Marching Anymore" (Elektra EKS-7287), 1964

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here%27s_to_the_State_of_Mississippi

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 05:20 PM

I believe I heard Ochs sing a verse that started with "Here's to the dogs of Mississippi"Anyone got that?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: GUEST,Gerry
Date: 12 Nov 11 - 09:14 PM

You wouldn't be thinking of Talking Birmingham Jam, which has a lot of dog in it, including "Alabama is a sovereign state/With sovereign dogs, and sovereign hate."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 13 Nov 11 - 05:00 AM

I remember it as in this song;he may have done this live once. I believe it was rather a strident verse,even for him. Like many performers,he probably did things live that he did not record.

Subject: ADD: Here's to the State of Richard Nixon (Ochs)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 03:11 AM

Wikipedia says:

Phil Ochs released the song "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon" as a single in 1974. Ochs replaces 'Mississippi' with 'Richard Nixon' in the lyrics. Additionally, Ochs changes some verses to reflect criticisms about the Nixon administration.

HERE'S TO THE STATE OF RICHARD NIXON
(Phil Ochs, 1974)

Here's to the State of Richard Nixon
For underneath his borders the devil draws the line
If you drag his muddy rivers nameless bodies you will find
And the fat trees of the forest have hid a thousand crimes
And the calendar is lyin' when it reads the present time

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Richard Nixon, find yourself another country to be part of

And here's to the schools of Richard Nixon
Where they're teachin' all the children that they don't have to care
All the rudiments of hatred are present everywhere
And every single classroom is a factory of despair
Oh, there's nobody learnin' such a foreign word as "fair"

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Richard Nixon, find yourself another country to be part of

And here's to the laws of Richard Nixon
Where the wars are fought in secret, Pearl Harbor every day
He punishes with income tax that he don't have to pay
And he's tapping his own brother just to hear what he would say
But corruption can be classic in the Richard Nixon way

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Richard Nixon find yourself another country to be part of

And here's to the churches of Richard Nixon and Billy Graham
Where the cross, once made of silver, now is caked with rust
And the Sunday mornin' sermons pander to their lust
Ah the fallen face of Jesus is chokin' in the dust
And Heaven only knows in which God they can trust

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Richard Nixon find yourself another country to be part of

And here's to the government of Richard Nixon
In the swamp of their bureaucracy they're always boggin' down
And criminals are posing as advisors to the crown
And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sound
And the speeches of the President are the ravings of a clown

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Richard Nixon find yourself another country to be part of

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqLtsp4xVAAz

---

And the interesting thing about this, is that you can substitute the name "Donald Trump" for every mention of Richard Nixon in this song, and the song will be totally relevant to this week's tragedies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 03:15 AM

Eddie Vedder, "Here's to the State of George W" - Sept 11, 2007

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIKdh56p8A4

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 05:57 PM

and people were already singing Donald Trump versions 3 and 4 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaZDta5Tg2M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deabBWj69mM

Love Me I'm a Liberal has also been updated by a few singers in recent years

Subject: ADD: Here's to the State of Donald Trump
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 06:04 PM

Thanks, Felipa. I think it's worth posting the lyrics of the rendition by Kyle Olson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaZDta5Tg2M

HERE'S TO THE STATE OF DONALD TRUMP
(Phil Ochs, altered by Kyle Olson)

Here's to the State of Donald Trump
For underneath his borders the devil draws the line
If you drag his muddy rivers nameless bodies you will find
His tiny little fingers have hid a thousand crimes
Now the calendar is lyin' when it reads the present time

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of
Donald Trump, find yourself another country to be part of

And here's to the schools of Donald Trump
Where they're teachin' all the children that it’s okay to loathe
The sciences and media and the facts that they promote
Because the system’s in the inept hands of this incompetent DeVos
Who has no goddamn opinion on proficiency vs. growth

And here's to the laws of Donald Trump
For giving us the reasons to fight injustice everyday
And he’ll punish us with income tax that he don’t have to pay
Now he's tweeting at himself just to praise what he would say
Because an ego is essential to the Donald way

And here's to the churches of Donald Trump
Where they welcome all with open arms except Muslim refugees
Because one might be behind the next attack on Bowling Green
Now the visa of the Savior’s been revoked due to decree
Because Heaven only knows in which God He believes

And here's to the government of Donald Trump
In the swamp of their bureaucracy they're always boggin' down
And criminals are posing as advisors to the crown
And they hope that no one sees the sights and no one hears the sound
And the speeches of the President are the ravings of a clown

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Here's to the State of Mississippi (Ochs)
From: GUEST,cnd
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 06:10 PM

Forgive the historical ignorance but what's the tie between Billy Graham and Tricky Dick? He's revered by many here in NC to this day (Graham, that is) and I'm not familiar with any ill association he had with Nixon.

---

---

I don't want to get this into a political or religious discussion here. For better or for worse, Billy Graham was a trusted advisor to Richard Nixon, as he was to many Presidents. Phil Ochs, correctly or incorrectly, saw that as being allied with Nixon; and he's the one who wrote "Here's to the State of Richard Nixon." Ochs and Graham are dead now, and can't explain themselves.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: ADD: Here's to the State of Donald Trump
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jan 21 - 06:10 PM

And James Trumm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=deabBWj69mM

HERE'S TO THE STATE OF DONALD TRUMP
(Phil Ochs, altered by James Trumm)

Oh, here's to the state of Donald Trump
Where underneath his crazy hair the devil’s doing fine,
In the basements of his towers nameless bodies you will find,
And his tiny little fingers have committed many crimes,
And the calendar is lyin' when it reads the present time.

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of,
Donald Trump, go find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the schools of Donald Trump
Where they're teachin' all the children that they don't have to care,
All the hatred of the immigrant is present everywhere,
They’ve whitewashed all the textbooks, no black people in there,
They’ve privatized the classroom -- such a foreign word as "fair."

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of,
Donald Trump, go find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the laws of Donald Trump
Where waterboarding’s legal and they torture every day,
He’ll punish those reporters when he don’t like what they say,
He’ll build a wall with income tax that he didn’t have to pay,
Oh, corruption can be classic in the Donald Trumpish way.

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of.,
Donald Trump, go find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the churches of Donald Trump (and Franklin Graham).
Where the gospel of prosperity into their face is thrust,
And the Sunday mornin' sermons pander to their lust,
While the fallen face of Jesus is chokin' in the dust,
And Heaven only knows in which God they can trust.

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of,
Donald Trump, go find yourself another country to be part of!

And here's to the government of Donald Trump
In the swamp of unreality they're always boggin' down,
And criminals are posing as advisors to the crown,
While the face of Lady Liberty is bent into a frown,
And the speeches of the candidate are the ravings of a clown.

Oh, here's to the land you've torn out the heart of,
Donald Trump, go find yourself another country to be part of!

Music & Lyrics Copyright © 1974 Phil Ochs
Additional Lyrics Copyright © 2016 James F. Trumm (BMI)


Lyrics posted here: https://kzclip.com/video/deabBWj69mM/here-s-to-the-state-of-donald-trump.html