--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Memphis was a great city back when Elvis…" description: "\"Memphis was a great city back when Elvis was alive. A very electric, fun place to be, especially if Elvis was in town.\" — B. J. Thomas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/b-j-thomas-5561_alive_memphis-was-a-great-city-back-when-elvis_1718602.png" --- # Memphis was a great city back when Elvis was alive. A very… ![“Memphis was a great city back when Elvis was alive. A very electric, fun place to be, especially if Elvis was in town.” quote by B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/b-j-thomas-5561_alive_memphis-was-a-great-city-back-when-elvis_1718602.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/b-j-thomas-5561_alive_memphis-was-a-great-city-back-when-elvis_1718602.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c5/b-j-thomas-5561_alive_memphis-was-a-great-city-back-when-elvis_1718602.png) > “Memphis was a great city back when Elvis was alive. A very electric, fun place to be, especially if Elvis was in town.” [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Memphis thrived on Elvis’s presence, creating an electric, fun atmosphere that attracted excitement. **In simple terms:** Elvis made Memphis lively and fun. Key Takeaway Appreciate cultural icons that energize places. Themes music culture nostalgia Mood nostalgic enthusiastic Type celebratory historical When to use this quote - concerts - tourism - city festivals Key Concepts urban vibrancy celebration Questions to Reflect On - How does a star shape a city’s identity? - What other cultural forces sustain a city? A Different Perspective Reliance on a single figure can eclipse other local values. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [City](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city/) [City Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/city-elvis-1316329/) [Elvis Town](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elvis-town-1316330/) [Especially Elvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/especially-elvis-1316331/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great/) [Memphis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memphis/) [Memphis Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memphis-great-442003/) [Place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/place/) ## Related quotes > [What I most look forward to about traveling to MEMPHIS is the great food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-isner/what-i-most-look-forward-to-about-traveling-to-memphis-is-the-great/) [John Isner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-isner/) > [Memphis is a great town, man. There's a great musical community here. I'm trying to fit in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-moore/memphis-is-a-great-town-man-there-s-a-great-musical-community-here-i/) [Charles Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-moore/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Even though the city of Memphis and this organization has welcomed me with open arms, I play every game like it's my last. Play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-barnes/even-though-the-city-of-memphis-and-this-organization-has-welcomed-me/) [Matt Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-barnes/) > [Finding meaningful ways to support the youth and families in the city of Memphis is very powerful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaren-jackson-jr/finding-meaningful-ways-to-support-the-youth-and-families-in-the-city/) [Jaren Jackson, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaren-jackson-jr/) > [Memphis breeds hustlers, I feel. It's just cutthroat living period, so to survive around vultures and savages like that, it prepares you for whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-gotti/memphis-breeds-hustlers-i-feel-it-s-just-cutthroat-living-period-so/) [Yo Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-gotti/) > [Memphis off to a good start vs Arizona! Let's go boys! Who you guys got in your brackets?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-rose/memphis-off-to-a-good-start-vs-arizona-let-s-go-boys-who-you-guys-got/) [Derrick Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-rose/) > [All the really great records or people who made them somehow came from Memphis or Louisiana or somewhere along the Mississippi River...And singers like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fogerty/all-the-really-great-records-or-people-who-made-them-somehow-came/) [John Fogerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fogerty/) > [If someone had said to me ten years ago "Yo, we have this role of this pimp who wants to be a rapper, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/if-someone-had-said-to-me-ten-years-ago-yo-we-have-this-role-of-this/) [Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/) > [My own experience with trains dates to long-ago childhood trips with my family in Mississippi to see my grandmother off at the station in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-huffman/my-own-experience-with-trains-dates-to-long-ago-childhood-trips-with/) [Alan Huffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-huffman/) > [Memphis don't bluff. It's a tight knit community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fizdale/memphis-don-t-bluff-it-s-a-tight-knit-community/) [David Fizdale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fizdale/) > [Everybody in Memphis trying to get signed by Gotti.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/everybody-in-memphis-trying-to-get-signed-by-gotti/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [Museums do not share their collections with other museums unless they get something in exchange. The Metropolitan will deal with the Louvre, but will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-broad/museums-do-not-share-their-collections-with-other-museums-unless-they/) [Eli Broad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-broad/) > [Yeah, I actually went to college. I went to Southwest Community College in Memphis; I tried to go to TSU, and they denied me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-gotti/yeah-i-actually-went-to-college-i-went-to-southwest-community-college/) [Yo Gotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-gotti/) > [In Memphis we don't talk. We ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/in-memphis-we-don-t-talk-we-ball/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) ## More by B. J. Thomas > [My dad, God bless him, had his problems and transferred them over to me. He was a huge hero to me, and I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/my-dad-god-bless-him-had-his-problems-and-transferred-them-over-to-me/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [Actually my biggest heroes were the R&B singers like Jackie Wilson and Bobby Bland and people like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/actually-my-biggest-heroes-were-the-r-b-singers-like-jackie-wilson/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [Raindrops' is an American song.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/raindrops-is-an-american-song/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining, because I'm free, nothing's worrying me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-m-never-gonna-stop-the-rain-by-complaining-because-i-m-free-nothing/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I want my music to have a positive effect on people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-want-my-music-to-have-a-positive-effect-on-people/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I'm an upbeat person, especially when I'm onstage and when I'm involved with my music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-m-an-upbeat-person-especially-when-i-m-onstage-and-when-i-m/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I don't care if people know I'm spiritual, but I'm just a regular guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-don-t-care-if-people-know-i-m-spiritual-but-i-m-just-a-regular-guy/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [Is 'Raindrops' a country song? I think it's a little bit of a stretch, but OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/is-raindrops-a-country-song-i-think-it-s-a-little-bit-of-a-stretch/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I was attracted to music when I was very young. I got in my first band when I was 15, so that's all I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-was-attracted-to-music-when-i-was-very-young-i-got-in-my-first-band/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [My Dad was just a working man. He was a good man and he loved music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/my-dad-was-just-a-working-man-he-was-a-good-man-and-he-loved-music/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [My Christian faith has sustained me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/my-christian-faith-has-sustained-me/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I knew all about religion all my life; it just never was real to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-knew-all-about-religion-all-my-life-it-just-never-was-real-to-me/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [Joining the Opry is a dream-come-true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/joining-the-opry-is-a-dream-come-true/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [The only songs I would learn were songs that moved me emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/the-only-songs-i-would-learn-were-songs-that-moved-me-emotionally/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) > [I'm not a traditional country artist, but I do think I'm in the tradition of people like Jim Reeves and Marty Robbins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-j-thomas/i-m-not-a-traditional-country-artist-but-i-do-think-i-m-in-the/) [B. J. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) [Explore all 100 B. J. Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-j-thomas/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) [Adam Ant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ant/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. We promise gingerbread, then eat the little brats alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/we-re-like-the-wicked-witch-we-promise-gingerbread-then-eat-the/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-costas/if-jovan-belcher-didn-t-possess-a-gun-he-and-kasandra-perkins-would/) [Bob Costas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-costas/) > [Peace is an ongoing process. It begins with the first step and it does not end. We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. Lutzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-w-lutzer/) > [If you’re alive, don’t move, if you’re dead, don’t worry about it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/if-you-re-alive-don-t-move-if-you-re-dead-don-t-worry-about-it/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [Here Greek and Roman find themselves alive along these crowded shelves; and Shakespeare treads again his stage, and Chaucer paints anew his age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/here-greek-and-roman-find-themselves-alive-along-these-crowded/) [John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/) > [You're alive!" Fezzik cried. The man in black sat immobile, like a ventriloquist's dummy, just his mouth moving. "That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Memphis was a great city back when Elvis was alive. A very electric, fun place to be, especially if Elvis was in town.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "B. J. 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