Memphis Blues
Nat Lyrics
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That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while.
Hospitality, they were good to me.
I couldn't spend a dime, and had the grandest time.
I went out a dancing with a Tennessee dear,
They had a fellow there named Handy with a band you should hear
And while the folks gently swayed, all the band folks played Real harmony.
Oh yes, them Blues.
They've got a fiddler there that always slickens his hair
And folks he sure do pull some bow.
And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon.
It moans just like a sinner on Revival Day, on Revival Day.
Oh that melody sure appealed to me.
Just like a mountain stream rippling on it seemed.
Then it slowly died, with a gentle sigh
Soft as the breeze that whines high in the summer pines.
Hear me people, hear me people, hear I pray,
I'm going to take a million lesson's 'til I learn how to play
Because I seem to hear it yet, simply can't forget
That blue refrain.
There's nothing like the Handy Band that played the Memphis Blues so grand.
Oh play them Blues.
That melancholy strain, that ever haunting refrain
Is like a sweet old sorrow song.
Here comes the very part that wraps a spell around my heart.
It sets me wild to hear that loving tune a gain,
The Memphis Blues.
The lyrics to Nat King Cole's "Memphis Blues" describe the singer's recent visit to Memphis and how impressed he was with the hospitality and music scene. The people in Memphis are described as constantly wearing smiles and treating the singer well, even though he never had to spend a dime during his time there. However, the real highlight of his trip was going out dancing with a Tennessee girl along with the music from the Handy Band. The singer describes the beauty of the harmony, particularly the unforgettable tune that Handy called the Memphis Blues, and how it appealed to him like a mountain stream. The fiddler and bassoonist are also praised for their exceptional skill in playing their respective instruments. The melancholic tune is then repeated, and the singer expresses how much he wants to learn how to play it himself.
This song highlights the uniqueness and enchantment of Memphis, with its friendly residents and captivating blues music. The lyrics speak to the lasting impression that the music and people of Memphis left on the singer, inspiring him to learn how to play the blues himself. This song, written by W.C. Handy around 1912, has since become an iconic expression of the musical style that grew and thrived in the American South. It celebrates the heritage of blues music and its role in shaping American music culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Folks I've just been down, down to Memphis town,
I have recently returned from Memphis, Tennessee
That's where the people smile, smile on you all the while.
The inhabitants of Memphis are very welcoming and friendly
Hospitality, they were good to me.
The people of Memphis were very hospitable and treated me well
I couldn't spend a dime, and had the grandest time.
Despite not spending any money, I had an excellent time in Memphis
I went out a dancing with a Tennessee dear,
While in Memphis, I went dancing with a lovely person from Tennessee
They had a fellow there named Handy with a band you should hear
There was a musician named Handy in Memphis who had a fantastic band that one should listen to
And while the folks gently swayed, all the band folks played Real harmony.
As the people danced, the band played in perfect harmony
I never will forget the tune that Handy called the Memphis Blues.
I will always remember the song called the Memphis Blues, which was composed by Handy
Oh yes, them Blues.
The song in question is not just any song, but the blues
They've got a fiddler there that always slickens his hair
In Memphis, there is a violinist who consistently combs his hair nicely
And folks he sure do pull some bow.
He is particularly skilled at playing his instrument
And when the big Bassoon seconds to the Trombones croon.
When the bassoon and trombones play together
It moans just like a sinner on Revival Day, on Revival Day.
Their sound is evocative of someone repenting on a day of religious rebirth
Oh that melody sure appealed to me.
I really enjoyed that particular melody
Just like a mountain stream rippling on it seemed.
It seemed as if the song was flowing like a mountain stream
Then it slowly died, with a gentle sigh
The song eventually came to a gentle, soft end
Soft as the breeze that whines high in the summer pines.
The song ended as delicately as a summer breeze rustling through pine trees
Hear me people, hear me people, hear I pray,
Listen to me, my fellow humans, I beg of you
I'm going to take a million lesson's 'til I learn how to play
I plan to take countless music lessons until I can play as well as the musicians in Memphis
Because I seem to hear it yet, simply can't forget
I still hear the Memphis Blues in my head, and I can't forget about it
That blue refrain.
The repeating lines of the song, known as the refrain, are particularly memorable
There's nothing like the Handy Band that played the Memphis Blues so grand.
The band led by Handy that played the Memphis Blues was exceptional and one of a kind
Oh play them Blues.
I urge the musicians to play the blues once again
That melancholy strain, that ever haunting refrain
The song's melancholic melody and repeating lines are unforgettable and continue to echo in my mind
Is like a sweet old sorrow song.
The Memphis Blues is reminiscent of a traditional, sorrowful song
Here comes the very part that wraps a spell around my heart.
At this point in the song, there is something enchanting that captivates me emotionally
It sets me wild to hear that loving tune a gain,
Hearing the Memphis Blues once again excites me greatly
The Memphis Blues.
The song is, of course, the Memphis Blues, and it has left a lasting impression on me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS MORGAN, BILLY BURNETTE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind