03. Memphis
Written by P J Harvey
Produced by P J Harvey, Rob Ellis & Mick Harvey

Found on:
Good Fortune CD1
Good Fortune CD2

This song is undoubtedly a tribute to Polly's fellow musician and friend, Jeff Buckley. Buckley tragically died in a drowning accident in Memphis in 1997. The song may also have been influenced by Buckley's own tribute "Morning Theft" for Elizabeth Frazier.

Although the song refers to Valentine's Day, Buckley died in November. Despite this and the fact that Polly has never explicitly stated the song was written for Buckley, connections can be inferred. The person Polly tells to "sing through" her, a person that still has "so much to say," can be safely considered a musician.
Following the first chorus, Polly expresses regret over not putting more into the relationship. It's never been unusual for celebrities, especially musicians who tour, to have a hard time keeping in touch with friends. Certainly having each person in the relationship be a musician meant there was a lot of difficulty keeping in touch.
"Die suddenly at a wonderful age" can also be pinned to Buckley, who was only 30 at the time of his death.

For more information on Jeff Buckley, visit JeffBuckley.com.

You're breathing in my mouth
I'll take it, I'll take it for you
You wanna sing
Then sing it through me
You've got something left to say

Untie me, we're taking away
Unlikely, out if time
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 Valentines' 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
You're smiling
Oh what a way to go
I'm with you
And I'm singing

You'll always have open eyes
You'll always have a special place
In Memphis on Valentines 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 you're driving slow
Receiving just everything

But oh what a way to go
So peaceful
You're smiling
Oh what a way to go
I'm know that
You're smiling

You're peaceful
You're smiling