Long distance information, get me Memphis, Tennessee
Help me find the party tryin' to get in touch with me
I do not know the number, but I know who placed the call
My uncle took the message and he wrote it on the wall.
Help me information get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd call me from Memphis, Tennessee
Her home is on the southside, high upon a ridge,
just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge.
Instrumental
Help me information, more than that I cannot add,
only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were torn apart because our* mom did not agree,
tore apart our happy home in Memphis, Tennessee.
Last time that I saw Marie she's waving me goodbye
With hurry home drops on her cheeks that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, so operator please
try and put me through to her in Memphis, Tennessee.
*Die Textänderungen gegenüber der Ausgangsfassung sind nur minimal, aber diese eine ändert den Sinn bzw. macht gegenüber der zweideutigen anderen klar, um was es hier eigentlich geht: Die Eltern haben sich scheiden lassen, die Mutter hat die Tochter mitgenommen, der Sohn ist beim Vater geblieben, und nun versuchen die Geschwister wieder zueinander zu finden.