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
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
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