Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty: Chart Rewind, 1978

About the Song

Ah, love and geography! Country music thrives on stories of star-crossed couples, and Conway Twitty & Loretta Lynn’s duet, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man”, is a prime example. This classic song, released in 1973, explores the fiery tension and undeniable chemistry that arises when a Southern belle from Louisiana meets a stubborn Mississippi man.

The beauty of the song lies in the back-and-forth between Twitty and Lynn. He, with his deep baritone, embodies the strong, traditional Mississippi character, perhaps a touch set in his ways. Lynn, with her signature sass, portrays the fiery Louisiana woman, unwilling to be tamed. The lyrics, “He likes his catfish fried, I like mine et on a po’boy,” perfectly capture the playful jabs at their cultural differences.

“Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” isn’t all playful banter, though. There’s a simmering attraction beneath the surface. Twitty sings, “She’s got a smile like sunshine, a temper like a storm,” hinting at the woman’s captivating complexity. Lynn counters with, “He’s got a stubborn streak a mile wide, but a heart that’s warm,” acknowledging his gruff exterior that masks a kind soul.

Despite their contrasting personalities and backgrounds, the song emphasizes the undeniable pull between them. Lines like, “We may fight like fire and rain, but somethin’ ’bout us just fits the same,” showcase the universal truth that opposites can attract. “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” celebrates the beauty of finding love in unexpected places, where differences become a source of intrigue rather than a barrier.

The song transcends its geographical references. It’s a story about embracing what makes us unique and finding common ground despite our contrasting backgrounds. Whether you’re from the North or the South, the city or the country, “Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man” reminds us that love can bridge any divide, as long as hearts are open and passions run hot.Loretta Lynn & Conway Twitty Live on Hee Haw | Loretta lynn, Conway twitty, Country music

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Lyrics: Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man

[Conway Twitty:]
Hey, Louisiana woman
[Loretta Lynn:]
Mississippi man
[Both:]
We get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart[Conway Twitty:]
See the alligators all a waitin’ nearby
Sooner or later, they know I’m gonna try
When she waved from the bank
Don’t you know I know
It’s a-goodbye fishin’ line, see you while I go
With a Louisiana woman waitin’ on the other side
The Mississippi River don’t look so wide[Conway Twitty:]
Louisiana woman
[Loretta Lynn:]
Mississippi man
[Both:]
We get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart

[Loretta Lynn:]
Well, I thought I’d been loved, but I never had
‘Til I was wrapped in the arms of a Mississippi man
When he holds me close, it feels almost
Like another hurricane just ripped the coast
If he can’t come to me, I’m gonna go to him
That Mississippi River, Lord, I’m gonna swim

[Conway Twitty:]
Hey, Louisiana woman
[Loretta Lynn:]
Mississippi man
[Both:]
We get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart

[Conway Twitty:]
Well, Mississippi River, Lord, it’s one mile wide
And I’m gotta get me to the other side
[Loretta Lynn:]
Mississippi man, I’m a-losin’ my mind
Gotta have your lovin’ one more time
[Conway Twitty:]
I’m gonna jump in the river and here I go
Too bad, alligator, you swim too slow

[Conway Twitty:]
Hey, Louisiana woman
[Loretta Lynn:]
Mississippi man
[Both:]
We get together every time we can
The Mississippi River can’t keep us apart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
[Conway Twitty:]
Hey, there’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
[Conway Twitty:]
There’s too much love in this Mississippi heart
[Loretta Lynn:]
Too much love in this Louisiana heart
[Conway Twitty:]
Hey

You Missed

SOME FRIENDSHIPS ARE WRITTEN IN SONGS… BUT ONLY A FEW BECOME FOREVER. There was something truly magical about the friendship between Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton — a bond that went far beyond the stage, the spotlight, and the music. In country music history, few duos ever captured the beauty of genuine connection the way they did. Their voices blended perfectly, but it was their friendship, respect, and love for each other that made every performance unforgettable. In 2013, they gave the world one final reminder of that special bond with “You Can’t Make Old Friends.” Nearly three decades after “Islands in the Stream” became a timeless classic, Kenny and Dolly returned together to create a song that felt less like a performance and more like a heartfelt conversation between two lifelong friends. Now, that song carries an even deeper meaning. Kenny Rogers left us in 2020… and today, the world says goodbye to Dolly Parton — two extraordinary souls who brought warmth, comfort, and joy to millions through their music. They were more than country music legends. They were storytellers, dreamers, and reminders that the greatest treasures in life are the friendships we build along the way. You can create many songs. You can create many memories. But **you can’t make old friends.** Some friendships are too special to disappear. They live forever in the melodies, the memories, and the hearts of everyone who was lucky enough to witness them. Rest peacefully, Kenny. Rest peacefully, Dolly. Thank you for giving us a lifetime of music, love, and unforgettable moments. The harmony you created together will continue to play forever.

Before he ever stepped up to center stage under his own name, Cal Smith spent years standing quietly in the shadows as a sideman, playing guitar behind country legend Ernest Tubb. Born Calvin Shofner in Oklahoma and raised in California, he paid his dues in clubs and on radio before joining the Texas Troubadours in the early 1960s, watching other stars soak up the applause while his own solo ambitions moved at a crawl. By 1972, Smith was well into his late thirties with little more than modest chart placings to show for his efforts. Everything flipped when fellow songwriter Bill Anderson handed him “The Lord Knows I’m Drinking,” a sharp track about a man taking heat from a churchgoer whose own hands weren’t exactly clean. The single struck a nerve, shooting straight to No. 1. The true lightning strike arrived soon after. In December 1973, Smith walked into Bradley’s Barn to lay down Don Wayne’s “Country Bumpkin.” Tracing an ordinary man’s journey through marriage, children, and the devastating loss of his wife, the song packed an entire lifetime into a few poignant verses and climbed to the top of the charts in 1974. The accolades poured in, sweeping Single Record and Song of the Year at the ACM Awards, alongside a CMA Song of the Year honor for the writing. Smith quickly proved he wasn’t a one-hit wonder by following up with another chart-topper, “It’s Time to Pay the Fiddler.” After more than a decade of holding down the rhythm section for everyone else, Cal Smith’s long-delayed moment in the sun finally arrived—forever stamping his voice onto one of the defining country anthems of the 1970s.