memphis(janis ian)we were standing by the riverstaring into townall the world was on his shouldersthe tears were raining downall along the southern skylinecity lights began to bloomhe said -- if you only knew herthe way that i do, siryou would be crying tooif you could see memphis the way that i doshe would look different to youqueen of the delta, tip your tiaramemphis, the belle of the bluesthe streets were filled with cottonand music filled the airall the paddle boats came rollingfrom east of everywherenow the streets are filled with silenceand songs no one can hearbut her memory lingersit slips through my fingersand into this river of tearsif you could see memphis the way that i doshe would look different to youqueen of the delta, tip your tiaramemphis, the belle of the bluesso roll on -- roll onmy sweet magnolia, roll onhow the memory lingersit slips through my fingersand into this river of tearsif you could see memphis the way that i doshe would look different to youqueen of the delta, tip your tiaramemphis, the belle of the blues