Memphis Song

Chuck berry performs memphis tennessee at the bbc television theatre london on wednesday 29th march 1972.

Memphis song. Atlantic no infringement intended. Well hey little girl with the red dress on there s a party tonight down in memphis town i ll be going down there if you need a ride a man on the radio says elvis presley s died we drove down into memphis the sky was hard and black. Uploaded for entertainment purpose. He calls the operator trying to locate his girl marie which conveniently rhymes with tennessee who he thinks is the one trying to reach him.

Memphis tennessee sometimes shortened to memphis is a song by chuck berry first released in 1959. We hear about the singer getting a phone call from a girl who wouldn t leave a number but he knows it came from memphis tennessee. And on september 20th 1964 it peaked at 12 for 1 week and spent 9 weeks on the top 100. It received a song of the year nomination at the 34th grammy awards.

Memphis is referred to in the song as the land of the delta blues delta blues is a style of blues music that originated in the mississippi delta in the early 1900s. It is the only top forty hit for cohn. Johnny rivers version of the song was a number two us hit in 1964. Walking in memphis by marc cohn recorded.

This song tells quite a story and has an interesting twist ending. At the same time decca records issued a cover version in the uk by dave berry and the cruisers which also became a uk top 20 hit single. Backed by dave harrison drums billy kinsley. Leaving memphis with a guitar in his hand on a one way ticket to the promised land.

Memphis is generally considered the northern boundary of this geographic area. You re watching the official music video for the original walking in memphis by marc cohn from his self titled debut album atlantic 1991. Walking in memphis is a song composed and originally recorded by american singer songwriter marc cohn for whom it remains his signature song. You can visit the delta blues museum in clarksdale mississippi about 75 miles south of memphis.

In the uk the song charted at 6 in 1963.