"I wanted to get out of Mississippi in the worst way. Go back? What I want to go back for?"

Muddy Waters was a blues musician from Mississippi who wished to leave the state in order to pursue his musical career. In this quote, he expresses his desire to leave Mississippi and his hesitation to return. He questions why he would want to return, suggesting that he doesn't see any advantage in returning. This quote reflects the struggles of many African Americans in the early 20th century who wished to get away the overbearing conditions of the South. Waters' desire to leave Mississippi is a sign of the larger pattern of African Americans migrating to the North searching for better opportunities. His quote likewise talks to the power of music and the potential it needed to supply an escape of hardship and injustice. By pursuing his musical profession, Waters had the ability to escape the oppressive conditions of Mississippi and accomplish success.