Have you ever been standing in the pouring rain
Have you ever been to Memphis when nobody knows your name
Have you ever been invisible, ever been overlooked
Not on anybody’s mind, not in anybody’s book
Have you ever wished you could just crawl back to from where you came
Have you ever been to Memphis when nobody knows your name
My friend, Bill, told me, If you come
I’ll introduce you all around, you’re gonna have so much fun
And everybody gonna love you for your talent and you wit
And for your cleverness, Bill was sure of it
When nobody loved me I made sure Bill was sorry as I was that I came
Have you ever been to Memphis when nobody knows your name
(Bridge)
My friend, Bill, he said, Think hard before you choose
To have everybody interested in every little thing you do
I left Memphis and went back to my hometown
Though I’d been away for so long, when I walked around
Everybody knew me, and everyone I met
Reminded me of something I’d left there to forget
The truth barreled in and hit me hard when it came
I’d rather be in Memphis where nobody knows my name
Have you ever been stranded in the pouring rain
Have you ever been to Memphis when nobody knows your name
Did you ever kick your shoes off, go splashing down the street
With no need to be presentable, no need to be discreet
Have you ever tasted freedom and did you find it far too sweet to trade for fame
Have you ever been to Memphis when nobody knows your name
Hiss Golden Messenger transforms from a solo songwriter to a full-band on a record benefiting Durham Public Schools. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 9, 2020
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 29, 2020