Janis Ian Memphis Lyrics:
[Ian:] 
We were standing by the river, 
Staring into town. 
All the world was on his shoulders, 
The tears were raining down. 
All along the southern skyline, 
City lights begin to loom. 
[Nelson:] 
He said, "If you only knew her, 
The way that I do, sir, 
You would be crying too." 

[Both:] 
If you could see Memphis, 
[Nelson:] 
The way that I do, 
[Both:] 
She would look different to you. 
[Nelson:] 
Queen of the delta, 
[Both:] 
Tip your tiara, 
Memphis, the belle of the blues. 

[Nelson:] 
Streets were filled with cotton. 
And music filled the air. 
All the paddle boats came rollin', 
From east of everywhere. 
Now the streets are filled with silence, 
And songs no one can hear. 
But her memory lingers, 
[Both:] 
And into this river of tears. 

[Both:] 
If you could see Memphis, 
The way that I do, 
She would look different to you. 
[Nelson:] 
Queen of the delta, 
[Both:] 
Tip your tiara, 
Memphis, the belle of the blues. 

[Instrumental break featuring Chet Atkins on guitar.] 

[Both:] 
So roll on, roll on. 
[Nelson:] 
My sweet magnolia, 
[Both:] 
Roll on. 
Now the memory lingers, 
It slips to my fingers. 
[Nelson:] 
And into this, 
[Both:] 
River of tears. 

[Both:] 
If you could see Memphis, 
The way that I do, 
She would look different to you. 
[Nelson:] 
Queen of the delta, 
[Both:] 
Tip your tiara. 
[Ian:] 
Memphis the belle of the blue-hoo-hoo-oos. 
[Nelson:] 
Memphis the belle of the blues.