Ten Favorite Rock City Names Songs: Biloxi (#5)

@FourWalls (76650)
United States
December 20, 2016 8:42pm CST
I had a ton of paperwork to go through last night, so I didn't get much done here. I'm back, though....looking forward to that three-day weekend! Meanwhile, here's the next song on my list of favorite songs with cities' names in the title. #5: Biloxi - Jesse Winchester Okay, maybe this should be a soft rock song. But who cares, it's fabulous. I first heard this song on Jimmy Buffett's Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes album. That was back when Buffett was a better cover singer than he is now. I've really been bummed by some of his covers, but not to the extent of James Taylor's transformation into the Pat Boone of the new millennium. But he picked a perfect song for himself in this song. And oh, did Jesse Winchester write a lovely tune. The song is almost like a reporter on the beach, describing every detail ("the boy will fill his pail with salted water, and the storms will blow from off towards New Orleans") of the day ("the sun shines on Biloxi, the air is filled with vapors from the sea") and night ("and the sky is red"). After fleeing to Canada to avoid the draft Winchester returned to the US after President Carter issued a pardon to all draft dodgers. He remained a critical and cult favorite until his death in 2014. An absolutely stunning song by one of our great songwriters. Biloxi Written by Jesse Winchester Recorded by Jesse Winchester From Jesse Winchester, 1970 And the sun will set from off towards New Orleans:
Jesse Winchester is an American singer-songwriter who was raised in Louisiana and Mississippi but moved to Canada in 1967 to avoid the Viet Nam war draft. He...
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3 responses
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
21 Dec 16
I remember him, although I couldn't name any of his songs. Even if you'd never heard Buffett's version, it's obvious listening to this that it was right up his alley.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (76650)
• United States
21 Dec 16
His most famous songs are someone else's cover. He also wrote "Brand New Tennessee Waltz" and "Defying Gravity."
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
21 Dec 16
I recall the name but don't really know him.
1 person likes this
21 Dec 16
But I don't think that Jesse Winchester plays rock. Rock was created in the 60s and was pioneered as the Hard rock scene. Bands like AC /DC , Jimi Hendrix , Pink Floyd etc are the core essence of rock. My top 5 Rock songs are - T.N.T by AC/DC Stairway to heaven by Led Zeppelin Comfortably Numb by Floyd You Shook me all night long by AC/DC Atout lè Monde by Megadeth