Black Leaves
Kirby Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Black leaves on the Mississippi River
Black leaves in the Mississippi fire
Black leaves in the Mississippi choir
Black leaves on the Mississippi land

And we've got God and cotton
We've got sons and daughters
We've got grit and glory

We've got mama's stories
We've got strength like towers
We've got hope and power

God made woman with an iron hand
Raised her up on heaven's land
God made woman with an iron hand
Raised her up on heaven's land

With strength like towers
We've got hope and power

Got me woman with the iron head
Raised her up on heaven's bed

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kirby's song "Black Leaves" paint a picture of the Mississippi River, its land, and its people. The line "Black leaves on the Mississippi River" may represent the pollution or destruction of the natural environment caused by human activities. "Black leaves in the Mississippi fire" may be interpreted as an allusion to the past, specifically the history of slavery and racial discrimination which remains a part of the region's memory. "Black leaves in the Mississippi choir" seems to convey the importance of music and community within the culture of the region, and "Black leaves on the Mississippi land" speaks to the resilience and persistence of the people who inhabit it.

The chorus of the song suggests that the people of the Mississippi River have a strong sense of identity, with God and cotton representing their history and heritage. "We've got sons and daughters" implies the passing down of culture and traditions from generation to generation, while "mama's stories" represents the oral traditions and storytelling that have been used to preserve history. The line "God made woman with an iron hand, Raised her up on heaven's land" portrays the strength and determination of the women of the community, while "Raised her up on heaven's bed" may suggest that they are revered and respected as symbols of hope and perseverance.

Overall, Kirby's "Black Leaves" portrays a rich and complex representation of the Mississippi River, its people, and their history.

Line by Line Meaning

Black leaves on the Mississippi River
The sad and depressing atmosphere of a river with black leaves floating on it

Black leaves in the Mississippi fire
The black leaves being engulfed by the flames in a fire by the Mississippi River

Black leaves in the Mississippi choir
The leaves floating on the waters of Mississippi, where the choir of the river sings a mournful and sullen song

Black leaves on the Mississippi land
The leaves fallen on the barren land around the Mississippi River

And we've got God and cotton
Religious faith and agriculture are the foundations of our society

We've got sons and daughters
Our families are the fabric of our society

We've got grit and glory
We work hard and strive for success

We've got mama's stories
Our traditions and history are passed down from our mothers

We've got strength like towers
We are resilient and tough like the towering structures of buildings

We've got hope and power
We believe in a brighter future and have the ability to create change

God made woman with an iron hand
Women are made strong and powerful by God to overcome adversity

Raised her up on heaven's land
Women are deserving of the highest respect and honor in both life and death

Got me woman with the iron head
A woman with a strong and resilient mind and will

Raised her up on heaven's bed
A woman who has lived a life worthy of eternal reward and rests in peace in heaven

Writer(s): Thomas R Brenneck

Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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