Intro: E  

E                              Ab 
  Staring down the blacktop at a cold dark night, boys 
A                             F# 
Pitch black sky there ain't a star in sight 
        E 
But I'm looking for a change 
   B7                              E      B7 
I'm passing through Memphis in the rain 

E                               Ab 
  Whitewashed buildings and old overgrown yards 
         A                               F# 
I've got one hand on the wheel, I've got one on my heart 
              E 
Looking for a girl without a name 
   B7                              E 
I'm passing through Memphis in the rain 

A/E                                  E 
  But no matter what I do, Lord, I can't stop 
A/E 
  Gotta keep that hammer to the floor baby 
B7 
  Until I'm clear out of Arkansas, mama cause 

E                      Ab 
  I know what they can do to me, Lord and I 
A                     F# 
Won't let them make a fool out of me 
           E 
Things are starting to get strange 
B7                               E       B7 
  Passing through Memphis in the rain 


E    Ab    A    F#    E    B7    E  B7  


A/E                                         E 
  Sometimes a man's just gotta know when to go 
A/E                          
  He's gotta earn himself a keepin', baby 
B7 
  He's gotta know when he's been beaten 

     E                       Ab 
So I called a cousin down in Houston 
        A                         F# 
He said "come on down boy, we got work for you to be doing" 
    E 
I'm looking for a change 
B7                             E 
Passing through Memphis in the rain 
                    
Yeah things are startin' to get strange 
    B7                             E 
I'm passing through Memphis in the rain