Intro: Em , Am , Am , Em x2

              Am                                                      Em
were you there when the man from atlanta was murdered in memphis
         Am                                    Em
did you see him layin at the low rent hotel
         Am                                    Em
did you hear them say that the cia is witness
         C                          B7                  Em                  D
to the murder of a man at a motel in memphis

chorus:
               Em                              Am
motel in memphis, motel in memphis
Am                                                                 Em            D
run and tell somebody, theres blood on the riverside
            Em                                 Am
old muddy water, rollin through memphis
Am                                                                         Em
if you were there youd swear it was more than a man who died

Em , C , B(note), Am , B(note), C(note), D(note), Em
                                     (walks up here)
 
did you see coretta she's sobbin on the corner in a black veil
did you see mr crump in a white coat grin
did you walk down river where the cotton woods are swingin
with ghostly bodies of man

repeat chorus

instrumental is the same chords as the chorus

were you there with mahalya wailin at the funeral
did you watch them lower his casket in
did you tremble when you thought about the future
and cry out for a modern man

repeat chorus