going to memphis

bring a drink of water leroy

bring a drink of water

no

if i could get to the mercy man

he'd give me some i know

i got a gal in vicksburg

bertha is her name

wish i's tied to bertha

instead of this ball and chain

i'm goin' to memphis

that's right lord

yeah

a dude took all my money

wouldn't let me see the cards

i owe the boss about a hundred years

for sleepin' in his backyard

i'm goin' to memphis

yeah memphis

yeah i'm goin' to memphis

like a bitter weed

i'm a bad seed

but when that levee's through and i am too

let the honky tonk roll on

come mornin' i'll be gone

i'm goin' to memphis

yeah memphis

i never been to chicago

but it must be a mighty fine place

that's right

i couldn't get past tennessee

with mississippi all over my face

i'm goin' to memphis

that's right lord

memphis

well

the freezin' ground at night

is my own foldin' bed

pork salad is my bread and meat

and it will be till i'm dead

well

i brought me a little water

in a mr. prince albert can

but the boss man caught me drinkin' it

and i believe

he broke my hand

they all call me crazy for sassin' mr. scott

my brother was killed for a deed i did

but i dis remember what

yeah

well another boy is down

the shovel burned him out

let me stand on his body

to see what the shoutin's about

i'm goin' to memphis

yeah i'm goin' to memphis

like a bitter weed

i'm a bad seed

but when that levee's through and i am too

let the honky tonk roll on

come mornin' i'll be gone

i'm goin' to memphis

yeah memphis