I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale Marc Cohn – Walking In Memphis
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Beale Street is a famous street in Memphis. There is a statue of W.C. Handy on Beale and B.B. King was known as the “Beale Street Blues Boy.”
“Walking with my feet ten feet off” could imply that he was, in effect, “walking on air” which would indicate a certain kind of excitement for being there, present in the land of blues in search of inspiration.
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“Being blue” could refer to the genre of Blues, but it can also infer that one is feeling down or sad. Cohn lost his mother at the age of 2 and father at the age of 12. This trip – however enjoyable it may be – doesn’t mean as much as family does to Cohn. He is searching for something very deep during his travels.
“Blue” could also be interpreted as blue-collar, asserting that though he was able to buy in a first class flight, he’s working class at heart, like all his idols in Memphis.
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W.C. Handy is regarded as the “Father of Blues”. Marc Cohn (being a musician of the same genre) is praying to Handy to take care of him on his journey and help him find something that will inspire him to make music.
In the middle of the pouring rain Marc Cohn – Walking In Memphis
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Delta Blues refers to the Mississippi delta which is believed to have been the area where Blues music originated.
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Cohn’s original plan was to visit Graceland, the site of Elvis Presley’s mansion. Like many Elvis fans Marc Cohn decided to dress up in Elvis fashion, but unlike many Elvis fans he didn’t go overboard.
Elvis Presley’s “Blue Suede Shoes” is actually a cover of a Carl Perkins song, who first recorded it in Memphis for Sam Phillips at Sun Records. Perkins' ill-luck in a car wreck stopped him from touring to promote the record, allowing Elvis' cover version of “Blue Suede Shoes” to become a massive hit.
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What is this?
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What is this?
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Police are socially/stereotypically known for their excessive use of force. Crooked cops are also known to plant evidence on those they wish to incarcerate (how the crack taste). It could also have to do with the crack of the baton or crack of the pavement (more police brutality references). The yelling of “Guatamalans” at the end further emphasizes the act of racial profiling that many officers utilize.
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