Nina Simone (1964)
Mississippi Goddam by Nina Simone is a powerful protest song that expresses her outrage over racial violence and injustice, particularly in response to the murders of civil rights activists and the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing. The song captures the frustration and urgency for social change during the Civil Rights Movement, highlighting the slow pace of justice and the pain of systemic racism in America.
“You don’t have to live next to me,
just give me my equality.”
Mississippi Goddam may sound like a tune from a Broadway show, but it only takes one quick listen to Nina Simone’s incredible lyrics to realize that this song is not playing nice. Mississippi Goddam is a call to arms; a song which doesn’t beg for civil rights, but demands it, thanks to Simone’s inspiring vocals. There’s a touch of sadness and exasperation to Simone’s voice as she rattles off the injustices committed against her people by a racist America, yet there’s also a certain surety that a change is going to come…and it’s coming soon. Mississippi Goddam is one of those perfect songs released at the perfect time; a masterpiece that begs for repeated listens.