Walking in Memphis (crime, home, living)

[SonicsFan93]

As people who live in Memphis, do you like the song "Walking in Memphis", by Marc Cohn, or "Graceland" by Paul Simon, or does it just drive you nuts? I'm just curious.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by SonicsFan93

As people who live in Memphis, do you like the song "Walking in Memphis", by Marc Cohn, or "Graceland" by Paul Simon, or does it just drive you nuts? I'm just curious.

I looooove "Walking in Memphis"! I never really understood it until I actually lived in Memphis.

[Pearlbob]

Love the songs, here them everyday at least once (Well, I hear Walking in Memphis a lot). Agreed, it's cool to understand the song after living here.

[expatnortherner]

Any city that can get a song written about it says something.

Ex-Pat

[strumpeace]

I remember hearing a few months ago on the Food Network that the famed restaurant/bar referred to in the song (the 'Hollywood')--which is in Tunica County iirc--is shutting down. Any word on that?

[TN-rox]

Originally Posted by SonicsFan93

As people who live in Memphis, do you like the song "Walking in Memphis", by Marc Cohn, or "Graceland" by Paul Simon, or does it just drive you nuts? I'm just curious.

I like the songs- its nice to get some recognition other than crime and stuff...

[DonCorleone]

Originally Posted by strumpeace

I remember hearing a few months ago on the Food Network that the famed restaurant/bar referred to in the song (the 'Hollywood')--which is in Tunica County iirc--is shutting down. Any word on that?

I sure hope not. I love the Hollywood!

[Dd714]

Well the song "Graceland" isn't really about Memphis, it's more generic than that and actually mentions New York City as well. I don't consider it a Memphis song. They could have replaced the word and title with "bubblegum".

...now on the other hand there are hundreds of songs, maybe thousands, that mention Memphis. Hey the below list forgot U2's Pride "Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky"

From "10 Best Memphis Songs" from http://fivebestlist.blogspot.com/2008/02/ten-bestmemphis-songs.html: (broken link)

#10. "Cities" by Talking Heads

Did I forget to mention, to mention Memphis?
Home of Elvis and the ancient Greeks
Do I smell? I smell home cooking
It's only the river, it's only the river.

#9. "Music Makin' Mama from Memphis" by Hank Snow

She'll play a little rhythm, do the boogie up right
A Tennessee polka, maybe blues in the night
Ever'body travels from near and far
To hear her when she picks it on that old guitar
My Music Makin' Mama from Memphis, Tennessee

#8. "Memphis Soul Stew" by King Curtis

Today's special is Memphis Soul Stew
We sell so much of this, people wonder what we put in it
We gonna tell you right now
Give me about a half a teacup of bass
Now I need a pound of fatback drums
Now give me four tablespoons of boiling Memphis guitars
This goin' taste alright
Now just a little pinch of organ
Now give me a half a pint of horn
Place on the burner and bring to a boil
That's it, that's it, that's it right there.
Now beat, well.

#7. "Memphis, Tennessee" by Chuck Berry

The last time I saw Marie
She was waving me goodbye
With hurry homedrops on her cheek
That trickled from her eyes
Marie is only six years old
Information please,
Help me get in touch with her
In Memphis, Tennessee

#6. "All the Way from Memphis" by Mott the Hoople

Now it’s a mighty long way down the dusty trail
And the sun burns hot on the cold steel rails
And I look like a bum, and I crawl like a snail
All the way from Memphis

#5. "Memphis Beat" by Jerry Lee Lewis

I'm going to Memphis where the beat is tough
Memphis, I can't get enough
It makes you tremble and it makes you weak
It's in your blood, that Memphis Beat

#4. "****** Tonk Woman" by the Rolling Stones

I met a gin soaked, bar-room queen in Memphis,
She tried to take me upstairs for a ride.
She had to heave me right across her shoulder
'Cause I just can't seem to drink you off my mind.

#3. "Proud Mary" by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis,
Pumped a lot of 'pane down in New Orleans,
But I never saw the good side of the city,
'Till I hitched a ride on a river boat queen

#2. "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" by Bob Dylan

Well, Shakespeare, he's in the alley
With his pointed shoes and his bells,
Speaking to some French girl,
Who says she knows me well.
And I would send a message
To find out if she's talked,
But the post office has been stolen
And the mailbox is locked.
Oh, Mama, can this really be the end,
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again.

#1. "Back to Memphis" by Chuck Berry

I'm going to leave here in the morning and walk down to the station
I've got just enough money to pay my transportation
I'm going back to Memphis, back home with my Mama
If I have to ride that bus barefooted in pajamas
Back home in Memphis, no moaning and groaning
I know everything will be all right in the morning

[Pearlbob]

How could Walking in Memphis not be on that list? That song is supposedly the city's official song.

[Dd714]

Off topic remark on the song "Graceland" - this is what the song is about, summed up in 4 lines of verse:

"She comes back to tell me she's gone,
As if I didn't know that
As if I didn't know my own bed,
As if I'd never noticed"

It's about the breakup of his marriage. Paul Simon has never been so personal in his lyrics. I don't think of Memphis when I hear that song, I think of a person going through his own personal hell of doubt, anger, and remorse.