Intro E E E 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