Memphis.
The name conjures up thoughts of Elvis and Graceland, W. C. Handy (the self-styled “Father of the Blues”)—and, of course, the famous Beale Street, where B.B. King’s is jumpin’ every night.
I don’t know about you, but when I sang along with Marc Cohn’s signature recording about Memphis, I really belted it out … on the part I knew. It sounded something like, “WALKING IN MEMPHIS! mmm mmm mm mm mm. WALKING IN MEMPHIS! mmm mmm mm.” My guess is I’m not alone in not knowing the lyrics to “Walking in Memphis.” A few years ago, as I planned a trip to Memphis to finally explore the history of “The Blues,” I realized I needed to actually try to learn the lyrics to that song. So, I did a little sleuthing.
The song is very popular, not least because of how well Cohn performs it. Maybe it’s just that we get lost in listening to him sing. Whatever the reasons, the truth is this: If we attempt to sing along, at all, it’s only when he croons the actual words, “Walking in Memphis” ... and something, something “the pouring rain.” But that’s about it.
Still, it should come as no shock to learn the song is about when Cohn made a pilgrimage to Memphis, Tennessee. He, too, wanted to connect with “The Home of the Blues.”
(Here’s his song, with lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2t8oVH3qao)
After our pilgrim “Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues / In the middle of the pouring rain,” he toured the southern city. He almost swoons when he walks down Beale Street, claims he sees the ghost of Elvis at Graceland, and notes “They’ve got catfish on the table.”
Perhaps, between not knowing the lyrics and discovering it’s about a blues pilgrimage to Memphis, we can be forgiven for not knowing the next thing he discovered:
They've got gospel in the air.
Our pilgrim, it turns out, was also on a bit of a personal spiritual journey while walking in Memphis. He realized there was more to the place than just its music, emphasizing how a pilgrim would be welcomed, “When you haven't got a prayer.”
“But, boy, you've got a prayer in Memphis.”
What comes next is equal parts sad and exhilarating. Cohn incorporates something into the lyrics that actually happened to him while visiting Memphis. One night at the famed blues joint, Hollywood Cafe, he listened to well-known pianist and gospel singer Muriel Wilkins perform—something she did every Friday night for many years.
After one set, Cohn was asked if he would perform a duet with Muriel. What musician could pass that up?
Now Muriel plays piano
Every Friday at the Hollywood
And they brought me down to see her
And they asked me if I would
Do a little number
And I sang with all my might
She said
“Tell me are you a Christian child?”
And I said, “Ma’am, I am tonight.”
That’s about the last we hear of our pilgrim’s spiritual journey: his one-night claim to a relationship with Jesus.
Music is powerful. It pulls us, drives us, fills us in ways nothing else does. Can it be any wonder that the gospel message found its way into music? And when the Blues meets Gospel? Magnetic! All of this makes me wonder if our pilgrim is experiencing something akin to that of David in this week’s Psalm 27. In the midst of all the worldly matters crowding in on him, David could be forgiven if he thought, “I haven’t got a prayer.” But instead, he seems to shout out, “I will sing and make melody to the LORD!” He knows that music is a great way to celebrate his relationship to God, especially when life is handing him the “blues.” He takes courage knowing he can rely on his steadfast God.
Cohn’s pilgrim finishes up the song by walking, walking, walking in Memphis, endlessly wondering: “Do I really feel the way I feel?” Perhaps he had glimpsed what David calls, “the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.” And, perhaps, he was still grappling with his almost-decision. All I know for certain is this: the duet they sang that night?
Amazing Grace.
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PHOTO: “Rainy Night On Beale Street” by Steve Orr
A great story about Memphis, Muriel, Marc, and The Hollywood):
Just for fun: the blues scene from “Adventures In Babysitting (“Nobody gets out of this bar without singing the blues!”)
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Friday mornings are a time of grace at DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast. We read, we pray, we discuss ... and we laugh. Join us at 8:00 at Our Breakfast Place or online at Zoom** for a great start to the weekend.
Blessings,
Steve
**Contact me for the Zoom link
NOTE: Zoom allows you to mute the camera and microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18
Psalm 27
Philippians 3:17-4:1
Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
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