I’m going to contribute to Black History Month in a small way by highlighting four songs from African American artists who wrote or performed memorable songs about the Mississippi River. My first pick is from St. Louis native Fontella Bass, someone who you might know because of the song Rescue Me but who really should be more famous. To Be Free uses the river as a symbol of freedom as it tells the subtle but powerful saga of one person’s desire to be relieved of life’s burdens, even if only for a short time. This song is among my ten favorite river songs.
Browse through other Song of the Day picks here.
