Story Behind The Song
Recorded live off the floor at Cowboy Jack Clement's studio in Nashville
Song Description
Story of musical reincarnation on the blues strip of Beale Street in Memphis
| Song Length |
2:26 |
Genre |
Rock - Classic, Country - Rockabilly |
| Tempo |
Fast (151 - 170) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Mood |
Frantic, In High Spirits |
Subject |
Musician, Miracles |
| Similar Artists |
Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1950 - 1959 |
| |
Lyrics
Beale Street 1963
Memphis Tennessee, down at the diner
Was a young lad, name of Johnny Green
Serving the bluesmen, nothing could be finer
Than pulled pork on a bun
Grits and catfish, well-done
Got clam chowder by the bowl
He'll bring you butter for your roll
CH:
Johnny Green
Come on Johnny Green
Now you can do better
You'll see what I mean
Johnny had no money, to buy a guitar
So he just watched them come and go
Old bluesmen from the strip
With their crooked fingers and worn out hips
One rainy Sunday night on stage
The king of Beale St. passed away
In his coat they found this note:
"Take my guitar and play, Johnny, play"
CH
Johnny locked himself in at night
Picking and strumming 'til morning light
He learned the licks and built some chops
Stayed out trouble with the local cops
One day a poster caught his eye
On the corner at the record shop
"Open Stage - Come One, Come All"
So he took his guitar and packed it up
In a plastic bag, walked through the rain
Pulled it out, plugged it in
It was the king of the Beale St., reincarnated
His fingers and his guitar reunited
cH
Johnny Green
Johnny Green
Now you`re the king of the Memphis scene