I'm Going To Memphis Chords

KeyA CapoNone TuningStandard Difficulty Plays343

I'm Going To Memphis by Johnny Cash is a beginner-friendly guitar song played in the key of A. It uses the chords A, E and D. Use the transpose and diagram tools on this page to change the key, see each shape, or simplify the chords.

Transpose
A
Text
16
Speed
  			       A                                                                   E        A 
    Bring a drink of water Leroy, bring a drink of water now, 
                                                       E                                A 
    if I could get to the mercy man he'd give me some I know. 
                                            E                  A 
    I got a gal in Vicksburg Bertha is her name, 
                                                             E                                A 
    Lord, I wish I was tied to Bertha instead of this ball and chain. 

                       A 
I'm going' to Memphis, mm mm, I'm going' to Memphis. 
                                             D 
But like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed, 
                      A 
but when the levee's thru and I am, too, 
                                                      E                     A 
let the honky tonk roll on, come morning' I'll be gone. 

I'm going' to Memphis. 

                 A                                                              E                A 
    Well, I never been to Chicago, but it must be a mighty fine place 
                                                                      E                        A 
    I couldn't get past Tennessee with Mississippi all over my face. 

                       A 
I'm going' to Memphis, mm, I'm going' to Memphis. 
                                             D 
Just like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed, 
                      A 
but when the levee's thru and I am, too, 
                                                      E                     A 
let the honky tonk roll on, come morning' I'll be gone. 

I'm going' to Memphis. 

                   A                                         E                        A 
    Well, I brought me a little water in a Mr Prince Albert can, 

    but the boss man caught me drinking' it, 
                  E                            A 
    and I believe he broke my hand. Mm. 
                                               E                          A 
    Another boy is down the shovel burned him out, 
                                                 E                                     A 
    let me stand on his body to see what the shoutin's about. 

                       A 
I'm going' to Memphis, mm mm, I'm going' to Memphis, mm mm. 
                                        D 
Like a bitter weed I'm a bad seed, 
                       A 
but when the levee's thru and I am, too, 
                                                      E                     A 
let the honky tonk roll on, come morning' I'll be gone. 

I'm going' to Memphis, yeah, Memphis bound. 

     A 
    I'm going' to Memphis, mm. 
    	

Chord diagrams

Guitar tuner

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Start the tuner and play a string

Reference tones

Standard tuning, lowest to highest. Click a string to play it; the string the mic hears is highlighted.

Click Start tuner and allow microphone access. The needle centers and turns green when a string is in tune (within 5 cents).
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Metronome

100 BPM Andante