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Hotel in Memphis Lyrics
Were you there when the man from Atlanta was murdered in Memphis?
Did you see him layin' at the Lorraine Motel?
Did you hear them say that the CIA is witness -
To the murder of a man at a motel in Memphis?
Motel in Memphis
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Did you see Coretta? She was sobbin' on the corner in a black veil.
Did you watch Mr. Crump in a white coat grin?
Did you walk downriver where the cottonwoods are swingin' -
With the ghostly bodies of men?
Motel in Memphis
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Were you there with Mahalia wailing at the funeral?
Did you watch them lower his casket in?
Did you tremble when you thought about the future -
And cry out for a martyred man?
Motel in Memphis
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Did you see him layin' at the Lorraine Motel?
Did you hear them say that the CIA is witness -
To the murder of a man at a motel in Memphis?
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Did you watch Mr. Crump in a white coat grin?
Did you walk downriver where the cottonwoods are swingin' -
With the ghostly bodies of men?
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Did you watch them lower his casket in?
Did you tremble when you thought about the future -
And cry out for a martyred man?
Motel in Memphis
Run and tell somebody there's blood on the riverside
Oh muddy water, rolling to Memphis
If you were there, you'd swear it was more than a man who died
Song Info
Submitted by
nalced On Jan 17, 2011
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Clearly about MLK and his assassination. Awesome fiddlin'.
I was raised in Memphis and recognize the Mr. Crump he refered to in the white coat as E.H. Crump, otherwise known as "Boss" Crump, who was the mayor of Memphis and operator of a corrupt political machine that ran the town for many years. He often wore a white coat that made him look surprisingly like Colonel Sanders.He was only mayor of Memphis from 1910 through 1915, and again briefly in 1940. However, he effectively appointed every mayor from 1915 to 1954.
I was raised in Memphis and recognize the Mr. Crump he refered to in the white coat as E.H. Crump, otherwise known as "Boss" Crump, who was the mayor of Memphis and operator of a corrupt political machine that ran the town for many years. He often wore a white coat that made him look surprisingly like Colonel Sanders.He was only mayor of Memphis from 1910 through 1915, and again briefly in 1940. However, he effectively appointed every mayor from 1915 to 1954.