PJ Harvey - Memphis

B-side from Good Fortune (Stories from the city, stories from the sea)

A tribute to Jeff Buckley (American singer-songwriter and guitarist). Polly knew him personally and in this song she takes lines from a song on his unfinished album, "Morning Theft", and in her own words reflects on Buckley's death.


You breathing into my mouth
I'll take it
I'll take it for you

You wanna sing
Then sing it through me
You've got somehitng
Left to say

Untimely, you were taking away
Unlikely, out if turn
When you still got so much to say
Well I'll write it, a song for you

But oh
What a way to go
So peaceful
You're smiling

Oh what a way to go
I'm with you
I'm singing

You said
There's a special place
And it's scaring
The shit out of me

In Memphis
On Valentine's day
You wrote it
In a letter to me

Well I wish I had given you more time
To say thank you
My beautiful friend

But sometimes you gotta send it away
To bring it
To bring it back again

But oh what a way to go
So peaceful
He's smiling

Oh what a way to go
I'm with you
I'm singing

You'll always
Have open eyes
You'll always
Have a special place

In Memphis
On Valentine's day
Die suddenly
At a wonderful age
Though were you ready
were you ready to go?
When you still got so much to say

Somehow I know
Somehow I know you're drowning slow
Receiving just everything

But oh
What a way to go
So peaceful
You're smiling

Oh what a way to go
I know that you're smiling

Oh
What a way to go
So peaceful
I'm singing

Oh
What a way to go
I know that
You're smiling
You're peaceful
You're smiling
You're peaceful
You're smiling

I know that
You're smiling
You're peaceful
You're smiling

Category:

Music

Tags:

• 2001
• Good Fortune
• Stories from the city
• stories from the sea
• B-side
• female vocalist
• Jeff
• Buckley
• tribute

[Karolcia1993]

beautiful song written for one and only Jeff... It's so sad he's not with us anymore:( Polly is also a outstanding artist

[enigmafia89]

Jeff Buckley lead me to PJ Harvey through this beautiful tribute.

"You said there's a special place and it's scaring the shit out of me...In Memphis on Valentine's Day, You Wrote it in a letter me."

Thats killing me with curiousity and its loading my head with so many questions. But ultimately accepting the mystery of it is a beautiful thing.

[1uck7]

Sometimes it sounds like it's Jeff singing the background vocals astonishing beautiful!

[0ntology]

it's courteous to leave songs like these off of major LPs, a cover can be tasteful, but not something like this. i adore the song but i'm glad she left it off of the album!

[BlackSabbathory]

One brilliant artist paying tribute to another one. Gotta love it.

[newoldtymer]

I think it might be because it's very close in feel to "A Place Called Home". . .? Still, this is such a great, great, great song.

[samking247]

WHY THE HELL ISN'T THIS AMAZING SONG NOT ON 'STORIES FROM THE CITY, STORIES FROM THE SEA'?

[calebmalkavian]

two beautiful creatures...

[epitomeofpissed]

This is such a beautiful tribute. Her references to Morning Theft (Jeff's song) really make me think he wrote that about her. Or at least used her as the inspiration.

[SteeRnschNuPPe]

Very Great song, but why is´nt it on the CD? I´ve got Stories from the City, stories from the sea, and its not on it !?

(Sorry for my horrible english! :))

[lemonkooler]

Song gives me chills