That's How I Got to Memphis
Natural Child Lyrics


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If you love somebody enough
You'll follow wherever they go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
If you love somebody enough
You'll go where your heart wants to go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I know if you'd seen her you'd tell me 'cause you are my friend
I've got to find her and find out the trouble she's in
If you tell me that she's not here
I'll follow the trail of her tears
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
She would get mad and she used to say
That she'd come back to Memphis someday
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I haven't eaten a bite
Or slept for three days and nights
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis
I've got to find her and tell her that I love her so
I'll never rest 'til I find out why she had to go
Thank you for your precious time




Forgive me if I start to cryin'
That's how I got to Memphis

Overall Meaning

The song "That's How I Got to Memphis" by Natural Child is a heart-wrenching tale of a lover’s search for his lost love. The central meaning of the song is that love can make an individual go to great lengths to find the object of their affection. The love expressed in the song is not only romantic but also the love between friends, as the singer trusts his friend to provide him with information on his lost love's whereabouts. The lyrics are a portrayal of the lengths that people will go to in order to find the person they love.


The singer in the song is desperate to find his lost love, and he embarks on a journey to Memphis in search of her. He is willing to do whatever it takes to find her, even if it means going without food or sleep for days. The line, "I haven't eaten a bite or slept for three days and nights," highlights the gravity of his situation and the depth of his love.


Line by Line Meaning

If you love somebody enough
When you truly love someone, you are willing to follow them wherever they go


You'll follow wherever they go
Your love will take you to the places where your loved one has gone


That's how I got to Memphis
My love for someone brought me to Memphis


I know if you'd seen her you'd tell me 'cause you are my friend
I trust that if you have seen the person I am looking for, you would inform me as you are my friend


I've got to find her and find out the trouble she's in
I have to locate her to help her with whatever difficulties she might be facing


If you tell me that she's not here
In case you inform me that she is not in this place


I'll follow the trail of her tears
I'll try to track her down by following her painful experiences in the hope of finding her


She would get mad and she used to say
She would get angry and say


That she'd come back to Memphis someday
That she would return to Memphis one day


I haven't eaten a bite
I haven't had anything to eat


Or slept for three days and nights
For three days and nights, I have not been able to get any sleep


I've got to find her and tell her that I love her so
My main goal is to locate her and profess my love for her


I'll never rest 'til I find out why she had to go
Until I discover why she had to leave, I won't stop looking for her


Thank you for your precious time
Thank you for taking the time to listen to me


Forgive me if I start to cryin'
I apologize if I begin to cry


That's how I got to Memphis
All of the above is the reason why I came to Memphis




Writer(s): tom T. Hall

Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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