The song “Walking in Memphis” was written by Marc Cohn, who is also the man who sings it. It’s one of those songs that makes people think of a city which is why it’s played all over the place but it’s not actually about any one city. Instead, it’s about Cohn’s impressions of various cities he visited.
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What is the meaning and inspiration behind ‘Walking in Memphis’?
“Walking In Memphis” is the story of a trip Cohn took to Memphis, where so much of America’s musical heritage originated. He speaks of seeing the statue of “Father of the Blues” W.C. Handy, of following the ghost of Elvis to Graceland, and of listening to the preaching of minister/soul music legend Reverend Al Green.
But a side trip to the nearby Delta area around Robinsonville, Mississippi – where Son House, Robert Johnson, and others played the blues – put the spiritual and artistic icing on the cake during this trip to the South (Cohn is a Clevelander), and it was almost inevitable that a song would follow. At Robinsonville’s legendary Hollywood Café he performed “Amazing Grace” with singer Muriel Wilkins, and was inspired to write “Walking In Memphis,” with its iconic ‘90s piano pop line, “Tell me are you a Christian, child?’ and I said, ‘Ma’am, I am tonight!”
Cohn, who is Jewish, told the Chicago Tribune in 2011 that the song was definitely written about true facts.
Who is the original singer of Walking in Memphis?
Walking in Memphis is a song composed and originally recorded by American singer-songwriter Marc Cohn, for whom it remains his signature song. It received a Song of the Year nomination at the 34th Grammy Awards in 1992, the same year that the 32year-old Cohn won the Grammy for Best New Artist.
FAQ
What does Beale mean in the song Walking in Memphis?
The lyrics, “Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale” refers to Beale Street, an actual street in Memphis.
What year was the song Walking in Memphis released?
It was released in March 1991 as the lead single from Cohn’s self-titled debut album.
Who remade Walking in Memphis?
Walking in Memphis was remade by Cher for her twenty-first studio album titled It’s a Man’s World. It was released as the album’s lead single in the United Kingdom on October 16, 1995.
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