Marc Cohn – Walking In Memphis

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Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
W.C. Handy, won't you look down over me
Yeah I got a first class ticket
But I'm as blue as a boy can be

[Chorus]
Then I'm walking in Memphis
Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale
Walking in Memphis
But do I really feel the way I feel

Saw the ghost of Elvis
On Union Avenue
Followed him up to the gates of Graceland
Then I watched him walk right through
Now security they did not see him
They just hovered 'round his tomb
But there's a pretty little thing
Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room

[Chorus]

They've got catfish on the table
They've got gospel in the air
And Reverend Green be glad to see you
When you haven't got a prayer
But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis

Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
And she said
"Tell me are you a Christian child?"
And I said "Ma'am I am tonight"

[Chorus]

Put on my blue suede shoes
And I boarded the plane
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain
Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues
In the middle of the pouring rain

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Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 04:12

"Walking in Memphis" as written by Cohn

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Walking In Memphis song meanings
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29 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment:The song is "Memphis". :) It is exactly what the city and the people are like. The massive river with the name to match and yes Miss Muriel I am a Christian. :) I love this song for nostalgic reasons.
    Flag redshiftdazzleron July 15, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:My boy friend and I were in Memphis and just got back. The whole time I was there this song was stuck in my head. We drove by the Airport and saw a plane land but it wasn't raining. Memphis is a pretty poor city as a whole. The streets are ripped up and everyone asks for money on the streets and lock your cars type of thing-- But driving long the river there are many beautiful shops and homes with that huge bridge over the Mississippi River with all the lights on it off in the distance. Beale street where they have all the blues bars is the coolest. Beale street also has a lot of BBQ joints and Southern Soul food places. Like it would of looked 50 years ago. You can walk up and down for hours listening to the music coming out from all the different places. The restaurants all try and get you come and eat at theirs but its all part of the culture of the area. Then there is the Mississippi River with the river boats. There is indeed a soulful feel to the city and of course everyone loves Elvis. There are even pink taxi's! Graceland is WELL worth the visit although you have to remember when Elvis bought it in 1957 it was 12 miles from downtown Memphis and a very rural area. Once Elvis made it home and they named the street in front after him the area really grew up and is actually pretty ghetto. But even if you look at video of Graceland from 1970 the street out in front was already pretty busy and then it keeps on growing up with stuff like "The Elvis Presley Motel" because people would come and congregate from all over and even they needed to eat and sleep. Graceland use to have a lot more acres to it which were sold off at some point. But Graceland the Mansion itself and the grounds and Garden where Vernon, Elvis, his mother and Grandmother are buried has all been left as it was in the 1970's. The last time it was even decorated was like in 1972 or something. It's actually an amazing place to visit and well worth the 30 bucks plus 10 bucks parking. Key is to take your time going through. Go on an early morning week day. They open the Graves to the public for free from 7:30 -8:30 in the morning for the people who can't afford the tours. There are audio tours and many things to see and hear about. I really enjoyed the culture of Beale street and it really did bring me back in time!! It was also neat seeing the Delta ( flood lands of the Mississippi River) outside the city where everyone worked in the fields and I guess that is where the "Delta Blues" originated from everyone coming into the city at night to go listen to or play the blues or ragtime.. I went in December and they had Graceland how Elvis use to like it at Christmas. But it was cold. I would rather be in Memphis in that hot southern heat to get the full effect of old Memphis. Especially if you are a northern girl like me. But I have traveled all over and I would reccommend making a 10 day trip spending 4 days in New Orleans, 2 days driving up through Birmingham and Montgomery for the history and then 2 days in Memphis to do Graceland, Beale street and the Delta one day for plan travel or car.
    Flag Erika111on December 31, 2011   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • +3
    General Comment:Being from Mississippi, I like to think of this song as just showing the beauty of Memphis. Being from the South I honestly have never heard of catfish being genitalia. Catfish is one of the foods of the South. You go anywhere in the South and catfish is everywhere. And as for the gospel part, I agree it was a religious awakening. We are the Bible belt, of course. Memphis is a spectacular place and this song just captures its history. I love Memphis, TN.
    Flag nothingpersonalkayleeon December 15, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:youtube.com/…

    in this youtube video he explains exactly how he came to write this song.

    btw am i the only one that sometimes get chills during the last verse?
    Flag oofuson November 05, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A couple months ago i was walking through the mall and they were having a karaoke contest and the guy hosting it was standing on the stage and said "alright this is one of my favorite songs on the list. Its called Walking in Memphis by Marc Cohn." i had it stuck in my head for weeks!
    Ever since then it has been in my top 10 list of songs :) which is saying something cause that list changes at least once a week haha.
    Flag Frenchie65on April 27, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Am I the only one who tears up during the section about him seeing the ghost of Elvis?
    Flag vivalamickon November 12, 2007   Link
    • 2 Replies
  • 0
    General Comment:i get the feeling there is something about acceptance here... although i definitely agree with the spiritual awakening thing... i have always felt that about this song.... but just thinking now, if you look at what "MelissaOK" said about the contrast of "catfish" and "gospel" suggesting in memphis there is something for everyone, from the pious to hedonistic, this seems to be backed up by:
    "And Rev. Green be glad to see you
    When you haven't got a prayer
    But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis"
    No matter what you do, who you are, you are accepted by someone in Memphis (maybe a metaphor for the kingdom of God maybe not)
    Flag readinggaolon October 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Eloiro, it's Union avenue not Union never knew
    Flagged Tmo2199on September 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is about a young man from Cleveland's first trip to Memphis - his first trip anywhere really. An aspiring singer/songwriter, he is amazed, inspired and in love with the south as he grows personally and professionally.
    Flag crazyvinnoon July 20, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about the narrator who was searching for musical inspiration in Memphis and ended up with a spiritual awakening.
    I think this because of all the reverences he makes to famous musicians and song writers. Especailly when he says:
    "W.C. Handy- won't you look down over me."
    He also makes refrence to praying, and towards the end of the song he says he is Cristian.

    Great song.
    Flag Running Out Of Inkon May 02, 2007   Link

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