MISSISSIPPI MUD 
(James Cavanaugh / Harry Barris)

Paul Whiteman & His Orch. (vocal: Irene Taylor & Bing Crosby) - 1928
Frankie Trumbauer & His Orch. (vocal: Bing Crosby) - 1928
Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band - 1954
The McGuire Sisters - 1956
Joy Bryan - 1957
Ray Charles - 1960
Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer - 1961
Jim Kweskin - 1968
The Muppets - 1977
D.C. Anderson - 1997
BSQ - 1998
Also recorded by: Dinah Shore; Bix Beiderbecke; Bob Crosby; Lawrence Welk; Lester Lanin; The Platters; 
Johnny Wiggs; Pasadena Roof Orchestra.


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...
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud,
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud.

Lordy, how they play it!
Goodness, how they sway it!
Uncle Joe, Uncle Jim,
How they pound the mire with vigor and vim!
Joy! that music thrills me!
Boy! it nearly kills me!
What a show when they go!
Say! they beat it up either fast or slow.

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.
Just as happy as a cow chewin' on a cud.
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi Mud. 


*****


Alternate Lyrics by Bobby Darin & Johnny Mercer (1961)


DARIN: Hey, John, you ever been to Mississippi?
MERCER: No, man, but I sure would like to visit down there.
DARIN: You would? 
MERCER: Yeah
DARIN: Well, I'll tell you what then, let us hop on a plane and went.
MERCER: OK, I hear it's very nice.
DARIN: It is, it is.

MERCER: When the sun goes down, the tide goes out
The people gather 'round and they all begin to shout
DARIN: What?
MERCER: "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."

DARIN: And what a dance do they do!
Lordy how I'm telling you
Why they don't need no band
They keep time by clapping their hands
BOTH: Just as happy as a cow chewing on a cud
When the people beat their feet on the Mississippi mud.

(Instrumental Break)

DARIN: Lordy how they play it, goodness how they sway it
There's Uncle George and Cousin Jack,
Look at those fools peckin' on their back.
MERCER: What joy that music thrills me, 
DARIN: It do?
MERCER: Boy, it nearly kills me.
Sister Kate hollers, "Son,
You sure get muddy, but it's mighty good fun"

BOTH: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."

DARIN: What a dance do they do!
BOTH: Lordy, how I'm telling you 
MERCER: They don't need no band.
DARIN: They don't?
MERCER: They keep time by clapping their hands
DARIN: I see
MERCER: Just as happy as a cow chewing on a cud
When the people beat their feet
DARIN: Yeah, yeah
MERCER: And the people clap their hands
On the M I double S I double S I double P I mud!
DARIN: An 'A' for spelling!



Transcribed by Mel Priddle (September 2002)