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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

This was the first single for Cohn, who was discovered by Carly Simon. He won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist. Among the artists who went home empty-handed from the competition that year in this category were Boyz II Men and Seal. Cohn remained active writing and performing, and while he retains a solid fan base, he has not yet scored a second top 40 Pop hit to match the success of this song. (thanks, Bertrand - Paris, France)

Cohn wrote this after seeing an Al Green sermon in Memphis. It is a journey to be baptized in the world of Blues music. Cohn said it is about "Spiritual Awakening."

"Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale" refers to Beale Street, an actual street in Memphis. Riley B. King became known as the "Beale Street Blues Boy" shortly after he first arrived in Memphis. Later, the nickname was shortened to B.B., the rest is history. (thanks, Gary - Thetford, England)

The sounds at the beginning of the song are meant to indicate falling rain.

The line, "Muriel plays piano every Friday at The Hollywood" is a reference to a local artist who played at the Hollywood Cafe, which is a small diner/music joint in Tunica County, Mississippi. Muriel has passed away, but The Hollywood is still there - you drive right past it to go to several of the casinos now located in Tunica. (thanks, paul - memphis, TN)

W.C. Handy, who Cohn refers to in the first verse, is a blues legend. His most famous recording is "St. Louis Blues," but he also recorded "Beale Street Blues" and "Memphis Blues." There is a statue in his honor in Memphis. (thanks, Aleks - Toronto, Canada)

W.C. Handy was born in Florence, Alabama. Florence, along with Tuscumbia, Sheffield, and Muscle Shoals, is part of this quad cities group usually referred to as "The Shoals" (as immortalized in Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"... 'the Shoals have got the Swampers'). There is a huge festival that takes place every August in the Shoals that honors WC Handy. It is aptly named The WC Handy Festival, and almost everybody, from churches to bars, and even the public library, hosts programs containing Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Funk, and Rock and Roll. (thanks, Bobbo - Killen, AL)

The reference to "Blue Suede Shoes" is not about Elvis Presley, but about Carl Perkins, who recorded the song in Memphis for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Perkins' ill-luck in a car wreck stopped him from touring to promote the record, allowing Elvis' cover version to become a massive hit. Presley's copy was recorded at RCA studios in Nashville.

The narrator tells of seeing "The ghost of Elvis up on Union Avenue and followed him up to gates of Graceland." Sam Phillips' studios were called "Memphis Recording Service" and were at 706 Union Avenue. Elvis' start on the journey to fame and fortune (i.e. Graceland) is usually attributed to the success of "Blues Suede Shoes" - and that of "Heartbreak Hotel."

"Security didn't see him" is probably a comment on the story that Bruce Springsteen once successfully scaled the wall at Graceland, trying to deliver a song he wrote. Apparently, Elvis wasn't there.

"There's catfish on table and gospel in the air" marks the dichotomy between secular and sacred. Catfish is the standard Blues metaphor for sexual intercourse. (The word is also interchangeable with the slang expression for the female sex zones). "Catfish" thus would appeal to the bodily instincts, whereas "gospel" would be to the intellect. The metaphor gains more credence since Al Green supposedly renounced secular music after being scalded with grits by a jealous girlfriend.

The lyrics refer to the girl waiting in the Jungle Room. This was the name of the play area at Elvis' Graceland mansion where he and the crew would take care of business (TCB). (thanks, Gary - Thetford, England, for above 5)

Cher recorded this for her 1995 album It's a Man's World, and released it as a single in the UK, where it hit #11. In her version, Gabriel plays the piano instead of Muriel. It was used in the season 5 episode of The X Files called "The Post-Modern Prometheus," which was the only black and white episode of the show.

Comments:

Being from the South and AKA "Bible Belt" it made since to me that there was catfish on the table and gospel in the air. Catfish is plentiful and cheap (as well as delicious!! Little seasoning.. butter… fry pan… mmm). The cheapness of catfish made it accessible for anyone … to buy or to go fishin for..(Don’t forget the Mississippi River… right there). Catfish and grits.. great staple food. And as previously stated the Catholics did not eat red meat on Fridays (even in school growing up we had fish on Friday). Being in the “Bible Belt” of America the majority of the true time-honored southerners were traditionally Christian. With the largest congregation of Baptist. So Gospel in the air is to me a reference to that tradition. also– asking someone unknown to join them… is a reference to me of the tradition of Southern friendliness.
- Glenda, Eustis, FL

There are a lot of versions of this song: Joe Cocker, Dave Matthews, James Taylor and Bruce Hornsby along with those mentioned above. They are all good, except for Cher's...she needs to leave this one alone. JT and Cocker come close to Marc's version, but it still ain't Marc! A beautiful, spiritual song.
- Cletus, Roanoke, VA

The reason they have catfish everywhere on Friday nites is in reference to the Catholic observance of Lent, during which time no red MEAT is to be eaten on Fridays, but fish is allowed....this is also the reason Catholic churches have "Fish Fry Fridays".--Susan,Indpls,In
- Susan, Indianapolis, IN

Having just returned from a visit to Memphis, this song has become much more interesting to me. WC Handy's statue is on Beale Street (that line about being 10 feet off of Beale now makes perfect sense). If you make the pilgrimage yourself, a visit to Sun Studios is highly recommended. After I realized there was meaning to everything else in the song, I was curious about the story about Muriel, so it was nice to get the background story about her too (and the info about catfish - who knew?!).
- Christia, Atlanta, GA

i live right by memphis.this sounds like it was about elvis when he first started singing but i have no idea
- joshua, southaven, MS

I was the first person in the universe to play Walking in Memphis. I was Program Director at FM100 in 1989 and we found the song on a compilation disc that a trade publication released. It was accidentally put on the CD. Atlantic Records did not intend to release the song until Spring of 90...if at all!! Believe it or not I received many calls from the head of promotion at the label asking if it was a hit. I played the song for the first time on Monday Dec 14th. Sounded so good we did a "Double Spin". The rest is history. Isn't it good that "Walking in Memphis" wasn't first played on a station in Cleveland or Detroit. (By the way, the Hollywood is still there...closed but reopened in Tunica MS.
- Steve, Memphis, TN

Sorry. It was December 11th 1990 first played. Oh, and in the Summer of 91, Cohn played for FM100 and all of Memphis on the banks of the Missisppi on the 4th of July. He opened for, non other than, Al Green.
- Steve, Memphis, TN

Granted, this song is about Memphis but it is also very clearly an explanation of how Elvis and Memphis are synonymous. Beale Street is world famous because of Elvis and his clothes shopping at a store on Beale Street. Going up to the gates of Graceland means nothing regarding Springsteen, it refers to the pilgrimage made by so many and also acknowledges the rock and roll symbol on those gates. The jungle room furniture was purchased in Memphis after Vernon Presly made a joke about it being tacky (Elvis had a sense of humor and a love of Hawaii) as told during the tour of Graceland. The blue suede shoes reference is also of Elvis. Carl Perkins was great but Elvis eclipsed Carl's version simply because Elvis' was that much better. The nonsense about not touring is ridiculous. The song is a great song and pays tribute to a blues city that echos Elvis in every corner. I think the blues does more to explain Elvis' influences than anything else.
- John, Hartford, CT

The deconstructionist stuff about catfish being a sexual metaphor is just thinking too deep. Anywhere in TN, catfish is on some nearby table. It's what we eat. Catfish, and barbeque, (Dry Rub in Memphis, sweet vinegar in Nashville). The song that a young Springsteen was trying to get to Elvis was 'Fire'. it was ultimately 'turned down'. It was later recorded and made a hit by the Pointer Sisters, Even though Bruce's version is also great, and has more soul, it never really commanded the charts the way the Pointer's version did.
- Donagh, Nashville, late of NJ, TN

i like this song cos it's everything that i feel right now. i'm pretty messed-up and this song puts me right. well, a little. : )
- pierre, malacca, Malaysia

I believe the lyric about 'they've got catfish on the table, and gospel in the air' is better served as a literal translation. Being from this region of TN, I know that fried catfish is beyond a tradition in TN, it's mandatory, especially on Fridays for some odd reason. Every soul and mom-and-pop diner serves catfish, and has Gospel music playing in the background. It just doesn't make sense to say that they're having female genitalia on the table and gospel in the air, as was suggested earlier.
- Mike, Halls, TN

fm100 was the first station to play this obvious salute to Memphis. Its ageless. timeless. Can you imagine the first time we heard it at the station> We are on Union avenue. Mark had come to memphis to visit some good friends and got inspired at the right time.He is married to Elizabeth Vargas..the queen of Television on abc. ron olson fm100 memphis. you can listen now at fm100memphis.com....you will hear marks song.
- ron, memphis, TN

Love the song..by anybody. been to Memphis and Beale Street. I have realtives near Memphis in Arlington. First time I was there I flew to Memphis. Song has a spiritual meaning to me...my departed Aunt taught me to play piano..and my Uncle knows Rev. Green. He knew more about the song than I did ..he is 88 years old and has taught me a lot. I was in Memphis Easter on 2007. Rick
- Rick, London Ontario, Canada

You missed what may be one of the best lyrick lines in all of pop music "sir are you a christian? Maam I am tonight"!!!!!!
- jake, Varnville, SC

Hmmmm, you guys down south are truely the rythm of the States. I loved Memphis Tennessee. Hell I did a lot of what Marc sings about. Beale st, Graceland, Union ave. When I think back to my Travel in the states, I think of Tennessee,I think of sun studios, EP, I think Of jack D(god bless him) I wish the hell I was watching those storm clouds move in like Rascals on an 85 degree evening.....eating BBQ pork on beale. God bless any song that can move me....why do people sing about memphis? Its all spiritual...
- Darren, PN, New Zealand

Great song, great production! It's too bad the album didn't capture more of his excellent material and that excellent material does exist by Marc Cohn. It's most unfortunate that he was shot, but most fortunate that he continues to entertain.
- J, Toronto, Canada

I think the Springsteen reference is crap because the whole verse is talking mostly about the ghost of Elvis. Of course security wouldn't see a ghost and wouldn't it be fitting for Elvis to haunt his old haunts before he made it big and obviously his home?
- Joe, Fort Meade, MD

The Cher cover of this song was in The X-Files episode "Post Modern Prometheus". The Frankenstein-esque monster is a huge Cher fan, at the end of the episode he escapes and gets to meet a Cher impersonator while this song is playing. Marc Cohn's version is way better, though.
- Kendra, Fountain Valley, CA

This song takes me on a journey from start to finish.The reference to Grace land is haunting in a nice way.- Robert,Alberta,Canada.

I haven't heard the song by any other artist; nor do I see a need to...as soon as I hear the piano lead in, I turn up the sound and can't help but sing along....GREAT TUNE!
- Sue, Woonsocket, RI

This is a song written by a guy who hopes to break the ice between him and the local scene in Memphis. I am quite sure it's a hard audience of people who have seen every fly-by-night singer and songwriter to come along and you have to do something exceptional to command their attention. This song does exactly that in it's rare quality. Though commonly... anytime you add a beautiful piano melody with a solid singer you gain the attention of the listening public by default of the contrast. Dooby Brothers, Bob Seger, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Band, and SO many others prove that point... This song makes me sing everytime -Scott
- Scott, Columbus, OH

Lone Star did a version of this. its my best friends favorite song
- Caitlin, Upper Township, NJ

Does anybody really care where it finished on the UK chart?? We are not talking about the beatles,like "walking in memphis" was suppose to be a #1 hit,relax folks, this is a GREAT North American song,and "let it be" just that!!
- Brad, Toronto, Canada

ACK!!! you mean this isn't Bob Seger...Whoops. Up until...oh 5 seconds ago, I thought Seger did this
- Brandon, Peoria, IL

Although Walking in Memphis reached 66 in the UK the first time it was released, when re-released 6 months later it made a more respectable 22.
- Mal, london, England

Why don't we just leave the song alone. Why do people continue to try and cover the song,nobody can sing it better than Marc,he was the first. For once I agree with American Idol's Simon who said"no matter how you sing it, you will never be better than the orginial artist" Please leave this classic alone,and get your own song to sing..Brad
- Brad, Toronto, Canada

Anyone else think Taylor Hicks would do an awesome version of this? Probably not as good as Cohn himself, but I think it would be a great song for him.
- sam, Davenport, IA

Yes Hollywood is still there... The original Building DID burn down, the "new" Hollywood has been around since 1969 however, it is located on Old Highway 61 North in a turn of the century building, we still have Jazz and Blues every Saturday night, and they make the best Fried Pickles you'll ever have in your life.
- Eric, Tunica, MS

Ms. Muriel has passed away but she actually asked everyone if they were a Christian. She played the piano every Friday and folks would come to listen to her sing. Marc Cohn actually DID come to the Hollywood and WAS asked to sing. There are pictures posted along side his Gold Album which is still on display at the Hollywood Cafe.
- Eric, Tunica, MS

when Marc Cohn actually "put on his blue suede shoes and boarded the plane" then "touched down in the land of the delta blues" he was coming to Memphis to visit to see if he wanted to move here because he had given up on his music career and wanted to find a place to settle down. He loved Memphis so much that he started writing this song which brought him to the top of the charts and jumpstarted his career. Even though he loved the city so much, once the song became a big hit he moved away and has been trying to make it as a singer (although he will always be known for this song). I just thought it was funny that he loved Memphis so much that he made this song then moved away after it made him famous
- mike, memphis, TN

Marc Cohn actually did board a plane and come to Memphis. He came to Memphis to visit and look for a place to settle down after years of trying to make it in the music industry. He loved Memphis so much that he made this song and it shot to the top of the charts. The funny thing is that he wrote this song and loved the city so much, but he never actually moved to Memphis even though he speaks so highly of it
- mike, memphis, TN

I travel to Memphis every year.; I got engaged in Memphis at the Rum Boogy Cafe on Beale,and Walking in Memphis is going to be our wedding song. Memphis is special and so is this song,thank you Marc and thanks Andrea
- Brad, Toronto, Canada

this song is gd but ma m8 has made another and better version-jordan, scotland
- jordan, linlithgow, Scotland

Just an FYI the Hollywood Cafe is literally 600 feet from my residence. Note it says I'm in Tunica but I'm actually in an unincorp area called Robinsonville, which is where Hollywood Cafe is, this is Tunica County, a common mistake that people make when referencing this area, Tunica the City is actually 15 miles North on Highway 61.
- Eric, Tunica, MS

Surprise, surprise! I always thought the lyrics about a Beale were relating to the famous brand name of a piano. I was not aware of a street named Beale. Having said that though, The song title "Beale Street Blues" rings a bell. Does anyone know if the Beale piano and the street have any bearing on one another or do I have the spelling wrong?
- Robert, Townsville, Australia

In the cover by cher she changes Muriel to Gabriel. Does anyone know what this is about?
- Lucy, Rading, England

Memphis is an awesome place to visit, or live. Every time I hear this song I feel like visiting Memphis again. Hopefully I'll be back again this year, maybe for another Peabody Hotel Rooftop Party.
- James, Aurora, IL

BIG song for me when I visited Jerusalem & sites in Nov. 1998 - I boarded the plane on Nov. 16, W. C. Handy's birthday!!! Memphis, like, stood for Jerusalem!
- Ihor Kutash, Montreal, Canada

I heard on the radio a version of Walking in Memphis that was a cut between Mark Cohn's version and Lonestar's version. Was this ever put on CD? I havent been able been able to find it anywhere!!!
- Kristen, The Woodlands, TX

I think the Cher version is the best version. It is the original and the best.
- Bert, London, Europe

Mark Cohn was recently shot in the face during a carjacking in Denver (summer of 2005). He is expected to make a complete recovery. Dave Matthews did cover this. Cher's mouth should be covered when she sings this, or anything else for that matter, except "I got you Babe".
- yduR, Knoxville, TN

one hit wonder here in Australia ...but it is how you say a "Classic" no if no buts
- pete, nowra, Australia

A very powerful song that disappointingly only managed no.22 in the UK charts. Love the line "Reverend Green be glad to see when you haven't got a prayer"
- Paul, London, England

Elvis never call the room "The Jungle Room." Many of the people who visited Graceland when it was opened to the public started calling the room "The Jungle Room" because of the furnature and carpet in the room. Elvis bought most of it in Hawaii.
- Bill, Cleveland, TN

I love this version.Personally I think Cher's version stinks.
- Maggie, Lafayette, LA

Yesterday I heard the song in the radio. It was the first time i heard the song. And for me it's a "Classic" and a masterpiece.
- Peter, Mistelbach, Austria

In addition to the comment about blue suede shoes being a reference about Carl Perkins, Perkins is actually from Jackson, TN.
- Katie, Jackson, TN

When Muriel asks him if he's a Christian Child? and he replies with, "maam i am tonight," it's a statement. Although Mark Cohn is actually Jewish, for this moment after being comforted by the ghost of the King (pun for Elvis and BB King), Al Green, and W.C. Handy, he has now become a part of gospel music.
- Max, New York, NY

Cher's version sucks big time too, totally murdered the song!
- melania, moscow, Europe

Lonestar's version stinks. It's too stressed out and whiny. Stick with the original.
- Homer, Versailles, IL

The line "Tell me are you a Christian child?/And I said Ma'am I am tonight" is probably a reference to Cohn being Jewish.
- Jordan, Philly, PA

"Security did not see him" is a confirmation that it was the GHOST of Elvis, not just another impersonator.
- Keith, SLC, UT

no wonder this song is in the top 10 every week, it's so awesome and appeals to everyone, regardless of their music taste. cohn's vocals are so great and the lyrics are great also. every DJ seems to love this song and play it on the radio all the time
- julia, london, England

The "Hollywood" was a diner/juke joint in Tunica County, MS. near the gambling capitol of the south. Back in the day, it was quite the hopping blues joint. It is less than an hour from Memphis. Besides, why would Cohn put something in a song called "Walking in Memphis" about a place in New Orleans? Duh? paul g., memphis, tn.
- paul, memphis, TN

You know, I had certainly heard this song plenty in the past but it never really stood out for me until I heard Lone Star's cover of it. Now I have listend to probally 7 or 8 covers of it including the original and I just think Lone Star does is so much better than anyone else. The lead singer has such a unique voice and the mucsical arrangement is right on. Check there verison out if you havnet already.
- Jim, Tampa, FL

Don't start making vacation plans to see Muriel though, she's passed away.
- David, Sebastian, FL

it just seems to be one of those songs that appeals to almost everyone ... i was hanging out with a group of friends, all of us very different with very different tastes, one of them started singing, and all of us joined in ... it's just one of those songs for some reason.
- Stephanie, Ellicott City, MD

Why is this song in the top 10 every week? Although a good song, It's not exactly what I would call a "Classic" Isn't he knod of a One Hit Wonder, maybe I listen to oldies all the time I don't know
- Dave, Pomeroy, OH

Did Dave Matthews cover this song or am i completely losing it? I'm more likely losing it but ya never know.
- John, Madison, WI

Cher had a big hit when she covered this in 1995, but her version is not as good
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

When walking into the Hollywood (which was near Tunica but has since burned down) Muriel would ask everyone if they were a Christian.
- Brian, Austin, TX

The Hollywood Cafe is actually supposed to be near Tunica, Mississippi not New Orleans.
- Jeb, Houston, TX