Bring a drink of water Leroy   Bring a drink of water, no   If I could get to the mercy man   He'd give me some I know      I got a gal in Vicksburg   Bertha is her name   Wish I's tied to Bertha   Instead of this ball and chain      I'm goin' to Memphis, that's right Lord, yeah      A dude took all my money   Wouldn't let me see the cards   I owe the boss about a hundred years   For sleepin' in his backyard      I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah Memphis   Yeah I'm goin' to Memphis      Like a bitter weed, I'm a bad seed   But when that levee's through and I am too   Let the honky tonk roll on   Come mornin' I'll be gone      I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah Memphis      I never been to Chicago   But it must be a mighty fine place, that's right   I couldn't get past Tennessee   With Mississippi all over my face      I'm goin' to Memphis, that's right Lord, Memphis      Well, the freezin' ground at night   Is my own foldin' bed   Pork salad is my bread and meat   And it will be till I'm dead      Well, I brought me a little water   In a Mr. Prince Albert can   But the boss man caught me drinkin' it   And I believe, he broke my hand      They all call me crazy for sassin' Mr. Scott   My brother was killed for a deed I did   But I dis remember what, yeah      Well another boy is down   The shovel burned him out   Let me stand on his body   To see what the shoutin's about      I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah I'm goin' to Memphis      Like a bitter weed, I'm a bad seed   But when that levee's through and I am too   Let the honky tonk roll on   Come mornin' I'll be gone      I'm goin' to Memphis, yeah Memphis