h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

"Drop in on the comments section, and we can all argue about whether Rodgers and Hammerstein have written an evocative song about the Mississippi or not" is unfortunate. Richard Rodgers did not play any part in writing "Show Boat." Jerome Kern wrote the music, Hammerstein the book and lyrics. "Till the clouds roll by," in which Frank Sinatra sang the song in question, is a biopic about the life of Jerome Kern. Richard Rodgers is not played by any of the cast members. Now, go and enjoy the music.

Besides, in 1927 Rodgers was busy with "A Connecticut Yankee."

You're right. I looked right at Jerome Kern (and even looked him up) and typed Rodgers. Thanks for the correction.

However, I stand by my annoyance at the New York (and Bucks County) crowd who insist on 'evoking' my native river. They knew far less about than Stephen Collins Foster, who at least had the Ohio to look at.

Our junior high music director was a big 'Show Boat' fan. Me, not so much. Except for the song PG Wodehouse wrote.

And Roger Miller ("Big River") was from Oklahoma, so he had the Arkansas and Red Rivers running through his state. Henry Mancini ("Moon River") was raised near Pittsburgh. Edna Ferber, who wrote the novel "Show boat," lived in Iowa for a while. She may have seen the Mississippi. I haven't read the book, so I don't know whether she put descriptions of the river in it, that Hammerstein might have used, not just in the songs, but in the libretto that he wrote.

Edna Ferber was a big deal in her day. I haven't bothered to read the book, either.

Ah, I see that Mr Mancini grew up in West Aliquippa - J&L territory.

He wrote, 'Moon River, wider than a mile...' Now, the Mississippi is wider than a mile in Memphis, which makes the bridge impressive. But these musical references to rivers are just literary tropes. I remain unimpressed, as with the random bird-and-flower references misused by Tin Pan Alley. They should've stuck to composing songs about pigeons.

Now, the National Park Service (NPS) had themselves a Mississippi bard name of Charlie Maguire, called the 'Singing Ranger'. He's a bit of a dollar-store John Denver, but he's listenable. His songs have ACTUAL INFORMATION in them about the Mississippi. And he knows enough to throw in a harmonica. Check out the one called 'Fishing River' - it teaches you how to spell Mississippi and lists numerous species of fish to be found therein. How many songs contain the word 'walleye'?

See here:

http://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/education/songs-of-the-mississippi-river.htm

Of course the great classic is 'Five Feet High and Rising' by Johnny Cash.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI7M2ELPtro