Memphis Tennessee

Lyrics: Chuck Berry
Music: Chuck Berry

Sung by Jerry Garcia with Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions in 1964. He sang a few variations on the Chuck Berry lyrics, which indicate he learnt it from the Jim Kweskin Jug Band version, rather than Chuck Berry's (see for example the third line of the first verse, and the switching of the first two lines of the last two verses):

Long distance information give me Memphis Tennessee
Trying to find the party trying to get in touch with me
You do not have to tell me who it was that made the call
'Cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall

Operator help me get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd call me from Memphis, Tennessee
Her house is on the south side, high upon the ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge

The last time that I saw her she was waving me good-bye
With hurry home drops on her cheeks that twinkled from her eye
We were pulled apart because her Mom did not agree
Tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee

Long distance information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Marie is only six years' old, information please
Help me get in touch with her in Memphis Tennessee

Long distance information give me Memphis Tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave a number but I know who placed the call
'Cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall

Help me information get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd phone me here from Memphis, Tennessee
Her house is on the south side, high upon the ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge

Help me information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee

Last time I saw Marie she was waving me good-bye
With hurry home drops on her cheeks that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years' old, information please
Help me get in touch with her in Memphis Tennessee