MOTHER MEMPHIS

Mighty Mother hovering on the muddy banks of the Father of Waters
Sings the blues & rocks with rhythms of music that rolls out of a
  thousand juke joints, taverns, bars and the mouths of rising Stars
Hoping to catch the next train to fame.

Nurturing Mother who blends our voices and our dreams,
who weaves new patterns into the old lace of the South.
Sending a hundred jets a day to lands far away loaded
with packages blessed by our Southern hands and
given to the world - our Southern Hospitality renewed.

Surrounding with love the place of great work
begun by Danny Thomas, your adopted son
(Oh, Danny Boy, what a gift you have given!)
Nurturing hope in the midst of desperation.
Hope reflected in the eyes of smiling children.

We stroll along your broad avenues lined with trees,
sweet magnolias filling the air with subtle scent
Breezes wafting the blooms over our heads
while all around us mill the multi-hued people
you call your own.

On the dark breast of the Delta, we lay our
heads while your blanket of night stills
over us, taking the lights across the river
into the West.  We slumber while you
hum your song of hope and freedom
sending your magic into our dreams