Phil Ochs — Going Down to Mississippi

[Verse 1] I'm going down to Mississippi Oh, I'm going down a southern road And if you never see me again Remember that I had to go Remember that I had to go [Verse 2] It's a long road down to Mississippi It's a short road back the other way If the cops pull you over to the side of the road Oh, you won't have nothing to say No, you won't have nothing to say [Verse 3] There's a man waiting down in Mississippi And he's waiting with a rifle in his hand And he's looking down the road for an out-of-state car And he thinks that he's fighting for his land Yes, he thinks that he's fighting for his land [Verse 4] And he won't know the clothes that I'm wearing And he doesn't know the name that I own But his gun is large and his hate is hard And he knows I'm coming down the road Yes, he knows I'm coming down the road [Verse 5] Oh, it's not for the glory that I'm leaving It's not trouble that I'm looking for But there's lots of good work that's a-calling me down And the waiting won't do no more No, the waiting won't do no more [Verse 6] Don't call me the brave one for going No, don't pin a medal to my name For even if there was any choice to make I'd be going down just the same I'd be going down just the same [Verse 7] For someone's got to go to Mississippi Just as sure as there's a right and there's a wrong And even though you say the time will change That time is just too long That time is just too long [Verse 8] So I'm going down to Mississippi Oh, I'm going down a southern road And if you never see me again Remember that I had to go Remember that I had to go