MONEY MISSISSIPPI LAMENT

by
Langston Hughes

I don't want to go to Money, honey,
Not Money Mississippi, No I wouldn't go to Money, honey,
Down in Mississippi.

There's hate and sorrow and pain in Money, Mississippi.
Tears and blood like rain in Money, Mississippi.
In Money, Mississippi.

His father fought for Democracy,
Soldier in the Army over the sea.
Negroes died for the U. S. A.

Why do they treat our sons that-a-way?
Down in Money, Money, Mississippi! Money, Mississippi!

His mother worked to raise her child,
Dressed him neat, kept him from running wild.
She sent him to the country when vacation came,
But he never got back to Chicago the same --
From Money, Mississippi! Money, Mississippi!

A little boy just fourteen years old,
Shot and kicked and beaten 'cause he was so bold
To whistle at a woman who was white --
He was thrown in the river in the dead of night
Down in Money, Money, Mississippi! Money, Mississippi!

No, I really wouldn't want to go for no kind of money
To Money, Mississippi, not Money Mississippi.

07

MONEY, MISSISSIPPI, BLUES

Lyrics
by

Hongston Hughes

Music
by

Jobe Huntley

I DON'T WANT TO GOTTO MONEY, MONEY,
NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

NO, I WOULDN'T GO TO MONEY, HONEY,
DOWN IN MISSISSIPPI.

THERE'S MARRY SORROW, AND PAIN

IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

TEARS AND BLOOD LIKE RAIN

IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,

IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

HIS FATHER DIED FOR DEMOCRACY

Sister

FIGHTING IN THE ARMY OVER THE SEA.

Nears

DIED FOR THE U. S. A.

WHY DO THEY TREAT OUR SON THIS A WAY?

IN MONEY, MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,

MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

HIS MOTHER WORKED TO RAISE HER CHILD,

dress

DRESS HIM NEAT, KEPT HIM FROM RUNNING WILD.

SHE SENT HIM TO THE COUNTRY WHEN VACATION CAME,
BUT HE NEVER GOT BACK TO CHIGAGO THE SAME.

They sent him back in a wooden box

FROM MONEY, MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,

MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

LITTLE OLD BOY, JUST FOURTEEN YEARS OLD,
SHOT, KICKED, AND BEATEN 'CAUSE HE WAS SO BOLD
TO WHISTLE AT A WOMAN WHO WAS WHITE.
HE WAS THROWN IN THE RIVER IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
IN MONEY, MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

BEFORE ALL OTHERS, I Pledge you, money,
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MONEY, HONEY,
NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TO MONEY, HONEY,
DOWN IN MISSISSIPPI.

THERE'S HATE AND SORROW, AND PAIN
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO FOR NO KIND OF MONEY,
TO MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

But, boys, remember this!

30 seconds

HIS FATHER DIED FOR DEMOCRACY,

HIS FATHER DIED FOR THE U. S. A.

WHY DO THEY TREAT HIS SON THIS A WAY
*Money,*
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
*In money, Mississippi?*

HIS MOTHER WORKED TO RAISE HER CHILD,
DRESS HIM NEAT, KEEP HIM FROM RUNNING WILD,
SENT HIM TO THE COUNTRY WHEN VACATION TIME,
WHILE HE NEVER GOT BACK TO CHICAGO THE SAME.

THEY SENT HIM BACK IN A WOODEN BOX
*Money,*
FROM MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
*FROM MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.*

LITTLE OLD BOY, JUST FOURTEEN YEARS OLD,
SHOT, KICKED, AND BEATEN 'CAUSE HE WAS SO BOLD
TO WHISTLE AT A WOMAN WHO WAS WHITE,

He was THROWED IN THE RIVER IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT
*Money,*
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
*In money, Mississippi.*

OH, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TO MONEY, MONEY,
MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

WHERE TEARS AND BLOOD JUST LIKE RAIN
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO, NOT FOR NO MONEY,
TO MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.

NEVER NO MONEY! NO, NO MONEY!

NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI, / *money, miss*.

BELOW ME, MEN, FROM THE RIVER, DOWN INTO MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.
I DON'T WANT TO GO TO MONEY, HONEY,
NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI.
NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO TO MONEY, HONEY,
DOWN IN MISSISSIPPI.
THERE'S PITY, GORROW, AND PAIN
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!
TEARS AND BLOOD LIKE RAIN
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
IN MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

NO, I WOULDN'T WANT TO GO, FOR NO KIND O' MONEY,
TO MONEY, MISSISSIPPI,
NOT MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!
MONEY, MISSISSIPPI!

MONEY MISSISSIPPI LAMENT

by

Langston Hughes

I don't want to go to Money, honey,
Not Money Mississippi, no I wouldn't go to Money, honey,
Down in Mississippi.

His mother worked to raise her child,
Dressed him neat, kept him from running wild.
She sent him to the country when vacation came,
But he never got back to Chicago the same --
From Money, Money Mississippi! Money, Mississippi!

A little boy just fourteen years old
Shot and kicked and beaten 'cause he was so bold
To whistle at a woman who was white --
He was thrown in the river in the dead of night
Down in Money, Money, Mississippi! Money, Mississippi!