"Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee"

Aside from the geographical references, this song has lots of American English words and phrases relating to using the telephone.

"Long distance" = BRIT. "trunk call" (междугородной)
"party" (сторона, участник)
"to get in touch with" (связаться с)
"to leave a number" (оставить номер телефона, как сообщение)
"to place a call" (позвонить)
"to take a (the) message" (принять/записать сообщение)
"to put smb through to" (соединить с)

Here's a video of the Mississippi River flooding Memphis at the foot of Beale Street.

Now, to the song. First, author Chuck Berry's version, then Johnny River's version. (Audio and text follows the videos.)

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Прослушать или бесплатно скачать Chuck Berry Memphis, Tennessee на Простоплеере


Прослушать или бесплатно скачать Johnny Rivers Memphis на Простоплеере

Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee
Help me find the party trying to get in touch with me
She could not leave her number, but I know who placed the call
'Cause 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 phone me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high up on a ridge
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi Bridge

Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
But we were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
And tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee

Last time I saw Marie she's waving me good-bye
With hurry home drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie is only six years old, information please
Try to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee