Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again (Take 13)

Oh, the ragman draws circles

Up and down the block

I'd ask him what the matter was

But I know he doesn't talk

And the ladies treat me kindly

And furnish me with tape

But neither him nor the ragman

Can help me to escape



[Chorus:]

Oh, mama, this could be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again



Now, Shakespeare'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 talked

But the post office has been stolen

And the mailbox is locked



Oh, mama, this might be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again



Now, Mona tried to help me

She said stay away from trainline

She said all the railroad men do

Is drink your blood like wine

And I said: "Oh, I don't know

But then again there's only one I've met

And he just smoked my eyebeds

And punched my cigarette"



Oh, mama, this might be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again



Well, grandpa died last week

He's buried in the rocks

Everybody's still talkin' about

How badly he was shocked

And me, I expected it

I saw he lost control

When he built a fire on Main Street

And filled it full of holes



Oh, mama, this might be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again



Now, the Senator came down here

Was showing everyone his gun

Handing out free tickets

To the wedding of his son

And i nearly got busted

Wouldn't it be my luck

To be caught without a ticket

And be discovered 'neath the truck



Oh, mama, this might be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again



Well, the preacher looks so baffled

Everytime I ask him why he dressed

With twenty pounds of headlines

Stapled on his chest

He'd curse me when i'd whisper

And say: "You can't hide

You see you're just like me

I hope you're satisfied"



Oh, mama, this might be the end

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Nashville blues again



Now, the rainman gave me two cures

And he said jump right in

One was Texas medicine

The other was railroad gin

And like a fool, I mixed them

And it strangled up my mind

And now people just get uglier

And i have no sense of time



Oh, mama, I just need a friend

I'm stuck inside of Mobile

With the Memphis blues again