Charley Pride Old Country Music Lyrics

"Roll on Mississippi"

The Charley Pride Old Country Music Lyrics titled "Roll on Mississippi" was written by Dennis Morgan and Kye Fleming.

I had to pull it out of the eighties and back into the seventies since it was a 1981 hit and I write mostly about the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Of course, I can do that because that wall of noise known as Country music today really wasn't there in the early eighties, as evidence of this well done classic country music song. 

When you listen to this song pay close attention to the lyrics. The song could have easily been written about Charley Pride growing up in Sledge, Mississippi. 

Maybe the writers had Charley Pride in mind when they wrote these old country music lyrics.

Charley Pride had thirty six #1 singles over the years, and although Roll on Mississippi only charted at #7, when in my opinion should have been a #1 song, it remains one of my favorites by Charley Pride.

The reason I enjoy this song so much is the words to the song, in particular, the first two lines of the third verse.

"When the world's spinning round, too fast for me, I need a place to dream...So I come to your banks, I sit in your shade, and relive the memories."

Charley Pride Old Country Music Lyrics.
Don't overlook the background singers.

When Charley Pride sings this song he makes you feel as though you are actually there, on the banks of that grand old river, sitting in the shade and reliving old memories.

Put a close ear on the background singers and music. When the violins begin to play they have just the right tone and the background singers sound as if they might be from a large church choir, blending perfectly with Charley Pride's golden baritone voice.

He did have a number one Gospel album in 1971 titled "Did You Think to Pray," so who knows.

Charley Pride Old Country Music Lyrics
Written by Dennis Morgan and Kye Fleming
Recorded by Charley Pride in 1981

Walking along, whistling a song, bare foot and fancy free
A big riverboat, passing us by, she's headed for New Orleans
There she goes, disappearing around a bend
Roll on Mississippi, you make me feel like a child again

Cool river breeze, like peppermint leaves,
the taste of it takes me back
Chewing on a straw, torn overalls, can't hold an old straw hat
Muddy river, just like a long lost friend

Roll on Mississippi, you make me feel like a child again
Roll on Mississippi, big river roll
You're the childhood dream, I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi, carry me home

Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on

When the world's spinning round, too fast for me, I need a place to dream
So I come to your banks, I sit in your shade, and relive the memories
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
Roll on Mississippi, you make me feel like a child again

Roll on Mississippi, big river roll
You're the childhood dream that I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi, carry me home
Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on

Mississippi roll on
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on 

Close your eyes and put your headphones on while listening to this song. With your eyes closed and those beautiful lyrics, you may actually hear the waves from passing barges slapping against the river bank.

This is the passion I feel for music....I listen to everything, not just the singer. And the passion in Charley Pride's voice is clear as he sings this song.

Charley Pride -  A Hall of Fame career.

Please enjoy one of my favorite Charley Pride songs. 

I think you may then begin appreciate so much more, why on May 1, 1993,  Pride accepted a long-standing invitation to join the Grand Ole Opry, 26 years after he first played there as a guest, the first African-American in its over 70 year history.

On October 4, 2000, Charley was honored with the highest country music award. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Charley wept when his name was announced by Hall of Famer, Brenda Lee. 

Sadly, Charley Pride died on December 12, 2020. He was 86. Thanks for the memories Mr. Charley Pride.

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