Additional lyrics by J.Cash-Arranged and adapted by A.Loman-Written by H.Dew
Recorded December 14, 1959
/ single strum
Key: Bb / Capo: 1 / Play: A
N/C
Bring a drink of water Leroy bring a drink of water (no)
N/C
If I could get to mercy man he's give me some I know
N/C
I got a gal in Vicksburg Bertha is her name
[M/C]Wish I's tied to Bertha instead of this ball and chain
N/C A
I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord) yeah (uh huh)
[A]A due took all my money wouldn't let me see the cards
[A]I owe the boss about a hundred years for [E]sleepin' in his back[A]yard
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis (yeah Memphis) yeah I'm goin' to Memphis (now)
[A]Like a bitter weed I'm a [D]bad seed
[D]But [A]when that levee's thru and I am too
[A]Let the honky tonk roll on come [E]mornin' I'll be [A]gone
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
[A]I never been to Chicago but it must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
[A]I couldn't get past Tennessee with Missi[E]ssippi all over my [A]face (uh huh)
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord Memphis)
Well the [A/]freezin' ground at [A/]night is [E/]my own foldin' [A/]bed
[A/]Polk salad is my [A/]bread and meat and it [E/]will be till I'm [A]dead
[A]Well I brought me a little water in a Mr Prince Albert can
[A]But the bossman caught me drinkin' it and I [E]believe he broke my [A]hand (hm hm)
[A]They all call me crazy for sassin' Mr Scott
[A]My brother was killed for a deed I did but I [E]disremember [A]what (yeah)
[A]Well another boy is down the shovel burned him out
[A]Let me stand on his body to [E]see what the shoutin's [A]about
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis yeah I'm goin' to Memphis hmm
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed
But when the levee's thru and I am too
Let the honky tonk roll on come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
Recorded December 14, 1959
/ single strum
Key: Bb / Capo: 1 / Play: A
N/C
Bring a drink of water Leroy bring a drink of water (no)
N/C
If I could get to mercy man he's give me some I know
N/C
I got a gal in Vicksburg Bertha is her name
[M/C]Wish I's tied to Bertha instead of this ball and chain
N/C A
I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord) yeah (uh huh)
[A]A due took all my money wouldn't let me see the cards
[A]I owe the boss about a hundred years for [E]sleepin' in his back[A]yard
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis (yeah Memphis) yeah I'm goin' to Memphis (now)
[A]Like a bitter weed I'm a [D]bad seed
[D]But [A]when that levee's thru and I am too
[A]Let the honky tonk roll on come [E]mornin' I'll be [A]gone
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
[A]I never been to Chicago but it must be a mighty fine place (that's right)
[A]I couldn't get past Tennessee with Missi[E]ssippi all over my [A]face (uh huh)
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis (that's right Lord Memphis)
Well the [A/]freezin' ground at [A/]night is [E/]my own foldin' [A/]bed
[A/]Polk salad is my [A/]bread and meat and it [E/]will be till I'm [A]dead
[A]Well I brought me a little water in a Mr Prince Albert can
[A]But the bossman caught me drinkin' it and I [E]believe he broke my [A]hand (hm hm)
[A]They all call me crazy for sassin' Mr Scott
[A]My brother was killed for a deed I did but I [E]disremember [A]what (yeah)
[A]Well another boy is down the shovel burned him out
[A]Let me stand on his body to [E]see what the shoutin's [A]about
[A]I'm goin' to Memphis yeah I'm goin' to Memphis hmm
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed
But when the levee's thru and I am too
Let the honky tonk roll on come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis yeah Memphis
