Well, I just looked down, gave me forty days Stood up to find that I could not pay Said, walk right, you'll soon be home Cross the line, you'll be on your own Forty days Shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights of sudden lesson To the midnight train to Memphis Guitar Solo Well, now we go bowling, the sun comes up Head at the throw, keep your big mouth shut Eat your breakfast on the ground Work like hell till the sun goes down Forty days Shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights of sudden lesson To the midnight train to Memphis To the midnight train to Memphis Well, now it's time for the jury, time for the judge Twenty more to forgive my crime When I get to thirty-nine There's a long stay in a prisoner's mind Forty days Shotguns and barbed wire fences Forty nights of sudden lesson To the midnight train to Memphis Midnight train to Memphis Midnight train to Memphis Oh, midnight train to Memphis Oh, midnight train to Memphis