Standard (EADGBE)

Intro

, , , x2

 were you there when the man from atlanta was murdered in memphis

 did you see him layin at the low rent hotel

 did you hear them say that the cia is witness

 to the murder of a man at a motel in memphis

Chorus

 motel in memphis, motel in memphis

run and tell somebody, theres blood on the riverside

 old muddy water, rollin through memphis

if you were there youd swear it was more than a man who died

(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