The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Walkin' along, whistlin' a song
Barefoot and fancy free
A big riverboat, passing us by
She's headed for New Orleans
There she goes
Disappearing around the 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
Chewin' on a straw, torn overalls
Cane pole and 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 (roll on Mississippi)
Big river roll
You're the childhood dream I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi (roll on Mississippi)
Carry me home
Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on (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 (roll on Mississippi)
Big river roll
You're the childhood dream I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi (roll on Mississippi)
Carry me home
Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on,
Mississippi (roll on Mississippi), roll on (roll on)
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on
Roll on, Mississippi
Barefoot and fancy free
A big riverboat, passing us by
She's headed for New Orleans
There she goes
Disappearing around the 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
Chewin' on a straw, torn overalls
Cane pole and 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 (roll on Mississippi)
Big river roll
You're the childhood dream I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi (roll on Mississippi)
Carry me home
Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on (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 (roll on Mississippi)
Big river roll
You're the childhood dream I grew up on
Roll on Mississippi (roll on Mississippi)
Carry me home
Now I can see I've been away too long
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on,
Mississippi (roll on Mississippi), roll on (roll on)
Roll on, Mississippi, roll on
Roll on, Mississippi
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Roll on Mississippi Lyrics as written by Rhonda Kye Fleming Dennis W. Morgan
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
The lyrics here are not accurate in a numbre of places. This is how this song is: Roll on Mississippi
Walkin' along, whistling a song Bare foot and fancy free, That big riverboat, passing us by, she's headed for New Orleans There she goes, disappearing around the 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, Chewin' on a straw, torn overalls, Cane pole and 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 spinnin' 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~ 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