Daniel Lanois
Mississippi (Alternate Version #3)
[Verse 1]
I'm standing in the shadows with an aching heart
I'm looking at the world tear itself apart
Minutes turned to hours, hours turned to days
I'm still loving you in a million ways
[Verse 2]
Well the devil's in the alley, there's a mule kicking in my stall
Say anything you wanna, I have heard it all
I was raised in the country, I've been working in town
I've been in trouble ever since I set my suitcase down
[Verse 3]
Well I ain't got nothing for you, I had nothing before
Don't even have anything for myself anymore
The sky is full of fire, pain is pouring down
There's nothing you can sell me, I'll see you around
[Verse 4]
Well I got here following the Southern star
I crossed that river just to be where you are
There's only one thing I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long
[Verse 5]
Well I've been loving you too long, I know you ain't no good
Don't make a bit of difference to me, don't see why it should
I was thinking about the things that Rosie said
I was dreaming I was sleeping in Rosie's bed
[Verse 6]
Well I'm walking through the leaves falling from the trees
I feel like a stranger nobody sees
So many things we never will undo
I know you're sorry, I'm sorry too
[Verse 7]
Some people will offer their hand and some won't
Last night I knew ya, tonight I don't
I need something strong to distract my mind
I'm gonna look at you 'til my eyes go blind
[Verse 8]
Well everybody's moving, God knows where
But I'm still here, you're still there
Only one thing I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long
[Verse 9]
Well my ship's been split to splinters and it's sinking fast
I'm drowning in the poison, got no future, got no past
But my heart is not weary, it's light and it's free
I got nothing but affection for those who have sailed with me
[Verse 10]
Winter goes into the summer, summer goes into fall
I look into the mirror, don't see anything at all
Stick with me, baby, stick with me anyhow
Things should start to get interesting right about now
[Verse 11]
My clothes are wet, tight on my skin
Not as tight as the corner that I've painted myself in
I know good fortune is waiting to be kind
So give me your hand and say you'll be mine
[Verse 12]
The emptiness is endless, cold as the clay
You can always come back, but you can't come back all the way
Only one thing that I did wrong
Stayed in Mississippi a day too long