MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2006 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Ellis

House Resolution 29

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. JAMES MONROE JOHNSON FOR HIS OUTSTANDING COMPOSITION OF AN ORIGINAL POEM ENTITLED, "I AM A MISSISSIPPIAN."

     WHEREAS, Mr. James Monroe Johnson of Starkville, Mississippi, composed an extraordinary original poem entitled "I Am a Mississippian," which captures the essence and pride of the many  wonderful aspects of this great state; and

     WHEREAS, copyrighted August 6, 2004, "I Am a Mississippian" reads as follows:

              "I am a Mississippian, born and bred

Cotton picked and corn-fed

Been 'round the world but back again

Chevrolet driven and democratic led

Most of my kinfolk

All up and gone

From the cotton fields and hay patches

That we used to call home

Everybody's talking about us

Being on the bottom

'Bout how we are always last

And forever forgotten

Many folk from here are ashamed

'Cause this where they're from

We all share shame for our past

And the obstacles we've overcome

We got B.B. King

The master of them blues

Then there's Elvis

And his blue suede shoes

Howling Wolf and Muddy Waters

And Little Milton too

Charley Pride and Faith Hill

Both country and blues

I'm tired of people asking me

Why I always come back

I never hesitate to tell them

This is where ya'll at

Mississippi is really unique

Our flowers grow so green

Our trees so naturally

Our hogs so lean

Our chickens so meaty

Our cows so fat

Our catfish so fishy

Our colored folk so black

Mississippi hasn't always been

The most favorite place to be

Nor ideal to visit

If you looked like me

But, I never hesitated

To really speak my mind

When people asked me where I'm from

I'd tell them every time

I'm from a small town

In the middle of a southern state

Not too many miles south of Memphis

Where fish still eat bait

Where waters are still muddied

And people go without shoes

Where chickens still lay eggs

And folk still grow food

Next to the heart of Dixie

Back to where I really belong

Yes, I am still a Mississippian

Because this is my home!"

     WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize outstanding and creative masters of literary works, such as Mr. James Monroe Johnson, who skillfully displays many of the brilliant aspects of this great state:

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Mr. James Monroe Johnson on his original work of authorship for the poem entitled "I Am a Mississippian" and wish him great success in all his future endeavors.

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be  furnished to Mr. James Monroe Johnson and members of the Capitol Press Corps.