Song Meaning
Chris Rea's "Mississippi 2" isn't just a geographical ode; it's a blood-deep yearning channeled through the mythos of American music. The opening verses paint a picture of hopeful beginnings under the "Nashville sky," yet quickly introduce a sense of restless destiny. The "twister with a Memphis sound" and the "angel of a music town" suggest a powerful, almost spiritual pull towards a life consumed by music, a force that both blesses and destabilizes. It's the classic artist's bargain: inspiration at the cost of personal equilibrium.
The lyrics then transition into a more explicit journey, both physical and metaphorical. The image of "jump[ing] a train from Chicago" to "trace it back" evokes the blues tradition, a relentless pursuit of roots and authenticity. The "neck of a bottle" and "groove of the tracks" aren't mere travelogue details; they symbolize the gritty, visceral connection to the music itself. The repetition of "Oh Mississippi" acts as a mantra, a recognition of the river not just as a location, but as a flowing source of creative energy and a reminder of the ever-present call to keep moving.
Ultimately, "Mississippi 2" is about the inescapable allure of artistic obsession. The singer acknowledges spending "your life running," chasing a sound that is always just out of reach. The song suggests that this pursuit, though potentially draining, is also transformative. The final lines, "Running through my veins…Never the same again," speak to a permanent alteration, an irreversible commitment to the artistic path. The Mississippi, in this context, becomes a symbol of that lifeblood, forever changing the artist's internal landscape.
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