The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.
Memphis Midnight
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Memphis looks bigger at night
All the tattooed boys in uniform
Step in and out of the light
She bought me good whiskey in Memphis
She bought supper and she paid for the room
And as best as I can remember
She said hey don't I know you
Ain't you the one
The one with the guitar boys
And all them sad songs
About men in the rain
Did you ever miss a plane
To Memphis
We laughed at the strangers we were in the bed
Two cigarettes lit up the room
Like two backseat lovers, can't wait to get started
Knowing everything's over too soon
Now Memphis ain't bad in the morning
Good coffee well it's just hard to find
But let me suggest that you never leave Memphis
With anything on your mind
In Lyle Lovett's song Memphis Midnight / Memphis Morning, Lovett paints a vivid picture of the city of Memphis. In the first stanza, he describes the city at night, with the sun going down "like a curtain" and the city appearing larger. He also notes the presence of tattooed boys in uniform, perhaps alluding to the city's culture and identity.
The second stanza focuses on a romantic encounter with a woman in Memphis. She buys him good whiskey and pays for their room and supper. Lovett admits that she paid dearly for loving him as well, hinting at the complexities of their relationship. The woman recognizes Lovett as the musician known for his sad songs about men in the rain, asking him if he ever missed a plane to Memphis.
In the last stanza, Lovett compares their lovemaking to that of "backseat lovers," emphasizing its intensity and brevity. He then offers advice to never leave Memphis with anything on your mind, hinting at the city's allure and the many things it can offer visitors.
Overall, Lyle Lovett's Memphis Midnight / Memphis Morning is a poetic glimpse into the soul of Memphis, exploring its identity and the emotions that it can evoke in those who visit.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun went down like a curtain
The sunset happened quickly
Memphis looks bigger at night
The city of Memphis appears more prominent during the nighttime
All the tattooed boys in uniform
The men in military attire have tattoos
Step in and out of the light
The men frequently move in and out of shadow and illumination
She bought me good whiskey in Memphis
She provided the artist with high-quality whiskey in Memphis
She bought supper and she paid for the room
She treated the singer to a meal and lodging, paying for both
And as best as I can remember
To the best of the singer's recollection
She paid dearly for loving me too
She likely endured trials and tribulations due to her affection for the artist
She said hey don't I know you
She inquired if the artist was recognizable to her
Ain't you the one
The artist seemed familiar to her
The one with the guitar boys
He may be known for performing with a group of musicians
And all them sad songs
The artist's repertoire seemingly consists of melancholy tunes
About men in the rain
The lyrics of his songs may feature characters enduring hardship
Did you ever miss a plane
He may have missed flights or travel opportunities previously
To Memphis
To the city of Memphis
We laughed at the strangers we were in the bed
The artist and his companion found humor in their unfamiliarity with each other
Two cigarettes lit up the room
The act of smoking created a visible aura of smoke in the room
Like two backseat lovers, can't wait to get started
The singer and his partner anticipate the physical aspect of their relationship
Knowing everything's over too soon
The duration of their shared time together will be brief
Now Memphis ain't bad in the morning
The city of Memphis is pleasant when the day begins
Good coffee well it's just hard to find
Despite the nice atmosphere, locating decent coffee is a challenge
But let me suggest that you never leave Memphis
The artist advises his listeners to avoid departing from Memphis
With anything on your mind
One should avoid leaving the city with unresolved issues or concerns
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID ERIC TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind