[Verse 1]
Well, the ragman, he draws circles, up and down the block
I'd ask him what's the matter, but I know he don't talk
The ladies, they treat me kindly, and they furnish me with tape
But deep inside my heart, I know I can't escape

[Chorus]
Oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Verse 2]
Now, Shakespeare, he's in the alley
With his pointed shoes and bell
Speaking with some French girl, who says shе knows me well
I'ma send a mеssage, to find out if she's talked
But the post office has been stolen, and the mailbox is locked

[Chorus]
But oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Verse 3]
Now, Mona, she tried to tell me, stay away from the railroad line
She says all the railroad men
They drink up your blood like wine
And I said, "Oh, I didn't know that"
But then again there's only one I've met
And he just smoked my eyelids, and he punched my cigarette
[Chorus]
Oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Verse 4]
Yes, and Grandpa died last week, and they buried him in the rocks
Now everyone still talks about how badly they are shocked
But me, I expected it to happen, I knew he'd lost control
When he built a fire on Main Street, and he shot it full of holes

[Chorus]
Oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 5]
Now the Senator, he come down here, showing everyone his gun
Handing out free tickets to the wedding of his son
And me, I nearly got busted, and wouldn't it be my luck
To get caught without a ticket and be discovered beneath a truck

[Chorus]
Whoa, oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again
[Verse 6]
Now the preacher he looks so baffled
When I asked him why he dressed
With twenty pounds of headlines stapled to his chest
And he cursed me when I proved it to him
Then I said, "See, not even you can hide
You see, you're just like me, and I hope you're satisfied"

[Chorus]
Oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Verse 7]
Now the rainman gave me two cures, then he said jump right in
The first was Texas medicine, and the second was just railroad gin
And like a fool I mixed them, and it strangled up my mind
Now people just get uglier, and I have no sense of time

[Chorus]
Oh, oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 8]
Now, when Ruthie says come see her in her honky-tonk lagoon
Where I can watch her waltz for free 'neath her Panamanian moon
And I said, "Ah, come on now, you know about my debutante
And she says, "Your debutante knows just what you need
But I know what you want"
[Chorus]
Oh, mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again

[Verse 9]
Now the bricks, they lay on Grand Street where the neon madmen climb
They all fall there so perfectly, and it all seems so well timed
But me, I sit here so patiently, trying to find out what price
You have to pay to get out of
Going through all of these things twice

[Chorus]
Oh, oh mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again
Whoa, oh mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again