GOING TO MEMPHIS
(John Lomax / Holly Dew)


Johnny Cash - 1960
Carl Perkins - 1973



Bring a drink o' water, Leroy
Bring a drink o' water, no
If I could get to the mercy man
He'd give me one I know

Hey, I got me a gal in Vicksburg
Big Bertha is her name
Wish I was tied to Bertha
Instead of this ball and chain

I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah, goin' to Memphis
I'm a bad seed, I'm a bitter weed
But when the levee's through and I am too
Well, let the honky tonk roll on
And come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis

Never been to Chicago
They say it's a mighty fine place
I never could get past Tennessee
With Mississippi all over my face

Freezin' ground is my night time, baby
That's where I lay my head
Polk salad is my bread and meat
And it will be till I'm dead

But I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah, goin' to Memphis
I'm a bad seed, I'm a bitter weed
But when the levee's through and I am too
Well, let the honky tonk roll on
And come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis

Another boy is down
The shovel burned him out
Let me stand over his cold body
Just to see what the shoutin's about

Hey, bring a drink o' water, leroy
In a Mister Prince Albert can
The bossman caught me drinkin' it
And he's damn near broke my hand

Yeah, I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah, goin' to Memphis
Yeah, I'm a bad seed, I'm a bitter weed
But when the levee's through and I am too
Well, let the honky tonk roll on
And come mornin' I'll be gone
I'm goin' to Memphis



(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - October 2018)