I'm going down to mississipi 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 It's a long road down to mississipi It's a short road back the other way If the cops pull you over to the side of the road You won't have nothing to say No, you won't have nothing to say 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 he's fighting for his land Yes, he thinks he's fighting for his land And he won't know the clothes 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 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 calling me down And the waiting won't do no more No, the waiting won't do no more 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 For someone's got to go to mississipi Just as sure as there's a right and there's a wrong Even though you say the time will change That time is just too long That time is just too long So I'm going down to mississipi 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