[Verse 1]
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 was tied to Bertha
Instead of this ball and chain

[Chorus 1]
I'm going to Memphis
That's right Lord, yeah

[Verse 2]
A dude took all my money
Wouldn't let me see the cards
I owe the boss about a hundred years
For sleeping in his backyard

[Chorus 2]
I'm going to Memphis (yeah Memphis)
Yeah I'm going to Memphis

[Chorus 3]
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 morning I'll be gone
[Chorus 2]
I'm going to Memphis
Yeah Memphis

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus 1]
I'm going to Memphis
(That's right Lord, Memphis)

[Verse 4]
Well, the freezing ground at night
Is my own folding bed
Poke 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 drinking it
And I believe he broke my hand

They all call me crazy for sassing Mr. Scott
My brother was killed for a deed I did
But I this 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
[Chorus 2]
I'm going to Memphis (yeah Memphis)
Yeah I'm going to Memphis

[Chorus 3]
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 morning I'll be gone

[Chorus 2]
I'm going to Memphis
Yeah Memphis
(Yes Lord, Memphis-bound)