Moon Pie Curtis's Musical Keys to the Game

Editor’s Note: Moon Pie Curtis is not a football expert. He is a songwriter/musician living in Oxford.
You might be interested in the Xs and Os of the matchup of Ole Miss and Texas A&M, and I’m sure you can find some insight and forecasting in that regard. No doubt there are a few writers who can fill you in. I’ll be reading the same. Maybe you’re curious about what to expect at A&M’s stadium. Wright Thompson could probably tell you, from his time there studying Johnny Football a year or two ago.
I am not a football expert, but I play one in the Grove. I’m one of those artsy-fartsy types who believes music actually makes a difference. I am just a fan, but I think the fans definitely showed up and showed out, as they say, last Saturday and helped move the dial in some way against Alabama. I thus humbly offer my layman’s view of the three keys to beating Texas A&M, in the form of three songs that should hype the cockles of your hearts.
1. “Cowboy Song”
We’re headed into cowboy territory Saturday. Simply blare this in the locker room or at your watch party, and I don’t see how you can allow yourself to lose. Blast it out of an absurdly loud system in a Jeep CJ-7 and drive very slowly through the Sonic. Remove your shirt if you need extra mojo. Victory is yours. Thin Lizzy singer Phil Lynott’s afro is now figuratively atop your head. Use it for good.

2. “The Seeker”
Hugh Freeze is definitely a seeker and is strong in his faith. As the song goes, the seeker gets what he’s after only after he dies. But Coach Freeze and Rebel nation might get some football glory before that. Crank up this up, and I see no way the Rebs won’t beat the Aggies like Keith Moon used to beat the skins. We’ll crash a Rolls Royce into their swimming pool. Spin “The Seeker”, and you will transform into Who Freeze. “As I ransack their homes, they wanna shake my hand.”

3. “Down in Mississippi”
This month marks the 20th anniversary of the formation of one of Oxford’s greatest bands, the Kudzu Kings, who cut a mean version of “Down in Mississippi” on their second album. While looking for it on the tubes, I ran across this stanky little video of Ry Cooder with Terry Evans doing the song live. No disrespect to College Station’s troubadour statesmen Robert Earl Keen Jr. and Lyle Lovett, but you’re about to get a whoopin’ from the kudzu contingent.

Get up! Show up and show out, Rebs!
— Moon Pie Curtis
Ole Miss alum Moon Pie Curtis is a songwriter/musician living in Oxford. He will be performing in Oxford with his band Moon Pie Curtis & the Fixins at the Buddy Walk for Down Syndrome awareness on October 19 at Bailey Branch Park (across from FNC), the Blind Pig on October 24, and at Proud Larry’s (opening for the Kudzu Kings) on Halloween, October 31. Follow him on Facebook or on Twitter @moonpiecurtis.