Tishomingo Blues
For the 2002 novel by Elmore Leonard, see Tishomingo Blues (novel).
"Tishomingo Blues" | |
---|---|
Sheet music, 1917 | |
Song | |
Published | New York: Jos. W. Stern & Co. (January 1917) |
Composer | Spencer Williams |
Lyricist | Spencer Williams |
Language | English |
Recorded by | Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra, 1928 |
"Tishomingo Blues" is a famous tune and song by Spencer Williams. The tune was first published in 1917. The title refers to Tishomingo, Mississippi.
The song was first recorded in 1928 by Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra. It became a jazz standard, and continues to be performed and recorded into the 21st century. Listeners of National Public Radio are familiar with the music, which has been adapted with different lyrics as the theme song of A Prairie Home Companion.
Lyrics
First verse
- Oh Mississippi, oh Mississippi
- My heart cries out for you in sadness
- I want to be where the wintry winds don't blow
- Down where the southern moon swings low
- That's where I want to go
Chorus
- I'm goin' to Tishomingo, because I'm sad today
- I wish to linger way down old Dixie way
- Oh, my weary heart cries out in pain
- Oh, how I wish that I was back again
- With a race, in a place
- Where they make you welcome all the time
- Way down in Mississippi, among the cypress trees
- They get you dippy, with their strange melodies
- To resist temptation, I just can't refuse
- In Tishomingo I wish to linger
- Where they play the weary blues
Second verse
- Tonight I'm prayin', tonight I'm sayin'
- Oh Lord please take the train that takes me
- To Tishomingo, 'way down old Dixie way
- Where southern folks are always gay
- That's why you hear me say
- I'm goin' to Tishomingo
(Repeat Chorus)
Recordings
- Duke Ellington and his Cotton Club Orchestra, 198
- Bunk Johnson and his New Orleans Band, 1945
- Big Chief Jazzband, recorded in Oslo, Norway on May 10, 1953 and released on the 78 rpm record His Master's Voice A.L. 3307
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