text: Old Beale Street  is coming down
  Sweeties Snack Bar boarded up now
  And Egles the Tailor and the Shine Boys gone
  Faded out with ragtime blues
  Handys cast in bronze
  And hes standing in a little park
  With a trumpet in his hand
  Like hes listening back to the good old bands
  And the click of high heeled shoes
  Old Furry  sings the blues
  Propped up in his bed
  With his dentures and his leg removed
  And Ginnys there
  For her kindness and Furrys beer
  Shes the old mans angel overseer
  Pawn shops glitter like gold tooth caps
  In the grey decay
  They chew the last few dollars off
  Old Beale Streets carcass
  Carrion and mercy
  Blue and silver sparkling drums
  Cheap guitars eye shades and guns
  Aimed at the hot blood of being no one
  Down and out in Memphis Tennessee
  Old Furry sings the blues
  You bring him smoke and drink and hell play for you
  Lts mostly muttering now and sideshow spiel
  But there was one song he played
  I could really feel
  Theres a double bill murder at the New Daisy
  The old girls silent across the street
  Shes silent waiting for the wreckers beat
  Silent staring at her stolen name
  Diamond boys and satin dolls
  Bourbon laughter ghosts history falls
  To parking lots and shopping malls
  As they tear down old Beale Street
  Old Furry sings the blues
  He points a bony finger at you and says
  I dont like you
  Everybody laughs as if its the old mans standard joke
  But its true
  Were only welcome for our drink and smoke
  W. C. Handy  Im rich and Im fey
  And Im not familiar with what you played
  But I get such strong impressions of your hey day
  Looking up and down old Beale Street
  Ghosts of the darktown society
  Come right out of the bricks at me
  Like its a Saturday night
  Theyre in their finery
  Dancing it up and making deals
  Furry sings the blues
  Why should I expect that old guy to give it to me true
  Fallen to hard luck
  And time and other thieves
  While our limo is shining on his shanty street
  Old Furry sings the blues