Track 1: Southern Illinois

B_W_Rip Lee Pryor PC Jenny Pape web.jpg

Rip Lee Pryor performing in the recording studio

Artist: Rip Lee Pryor

Written by Rip Lee Pryor

Vocals, Harmonica, and Guitar by Rip Lee Pryor

Audio Link= https://rivertorivercommunityrecords.bandcamp.com/track/southern-illinois

Although coal-mining was once the region’s economic bedrock, today it is tourism. The region offers a wealth of outdoor adventures in protected forests and waterways. Local history museums and organizations tie the present to the past, and I-57 brings a constant stream of travelers through the area to sample what Southern Illinois has to offer. The southern tip of Illinois may be derisively called “Downstate” to accentuate its differences from central and northern Illinois, but proponents of Southern Illinois have worked for decades to draw attention to the positive qualities of the region. The Egyptian Key magazine was published by Will and Katherine Griffith in the 1940s with the intention of promoting “Egypt” in terms of tourism as well as boosting business. If you visit Special Collections at Morris Library, you can read the Egyptian Key for yourself. They were following in an earlier tradition as exemplified by H.R. Mitchell in his 1890 article “Booming Egypt” (Daily Inter Ocean, Chicago, IL). In a similar way, Rip Lee’s song Southern Illinois highlights regional attractions such as the “Home of Superman”, Metropolis, Illinois, Bald Knob Cross, as well as highlights the kind of atmosphere you’ll find when you come. -SD

Rip Lee Pryor is a harp playing, acoustic bluesman who brings his original songs all over the world to delighted audiences. Before he was internationally known, he worked a full career for thirty years at SIUC as a carpenter. He’s affable on stage and off, and his songs reflect his grounded and easy-going nature. He has released multiple albums and is just about to release another one entitled, Sugar Daddy Blues. You can hear the influence of his father, legendary blues harp player, Snooky Pryor, in his work. -JP 

Lyrics

I live in Southern
Down in Southern
Southern Illinois
I live in Southern
Southern Illinois
I’ma tell you people something, you can
really feel the joy

Little Egypt (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2
Like the land across the water, they got
Pyramids on the soil

Superman city (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2
In the town called Metropolis
Boy, what a joy

Bald Knob Cross (x 2) is in Southern Illinois x 2
That’s where they bless the bikes
That’s a joy

Come on down (x 2) to Southern Illinois x 2
You’ll be glad you did
and that’s a joy