The song's lyrics are autobiographical, chronicling a 1985 trip that Cohn, then a struggling songwriter and singer, took to Memphis to overcome a bout of writer's block.

After visiting the church where former soul singer Al Green was preaching, Elvis Presley's former home of Graceland, and a small nightclub in nearby Mississippi, as well as wandering various streets of downtown Memphis, he returned to New York and began composing the song.

While writing and recording sessions continued through the late 1980s, his debut album, on which the song was the lead single, was not released until 1991.

"[7] Cohn added:The first thing was go to the Full Gospel Tabernacle Church on a Sunday morning to hear the Reverend Al Green preach.

The service was so deeply moving that I found myself with sweat running down my face and tears in my eyes, totally enveloped by everything I was seeing and hearing.

"[7] The second piece of advice was that Cohn visit the Hollywood Café in Robinsonville, Mississippi (present-day Tunica Resorts, 35 miles south of Memphis), to see Muriel Davis Wilkins, a retired schoolteacher who performed at the cafe on Friday nights.

[7] Cohn remembered: When I arrived, Muriel, who ... was in her 60s, was onstage playing a beat-up old upright piano and singing gospel standards ...

A quick thinker, Muriel started feeding me lyrics to gospel songs so that I could catch up in time to sing somewhat in rhythm with her and make up my own version of the melody.

[7]Cohn didn't think the song worked on the guitar and so switched to his piano, at which point the process started to flow.

While I have to admit that I enjoy the confusion the lyric brings, the thing that makes that line work is the fact that I'm a Jew.

[7]In 1986, Cohn returned to the Hollywood Café to play "Walking in Memphis" and the other songs from his new album for Wilkins.

[10] Pan-European magazine Music & Media described "Walking in Memphis" as "an inspiring song about the capitol of rock & roll, by this promising American singer/songwriter who is backed by an impressive gospel choir.

He added, "To conclude that 'Walking in Memphis' is a mite similar to fellow pop hagioraphers Danny Wilson's 'Mary's Prayer' is to do Cohn a serious disservice.

Firstly, he has a fine, grown up voice and a manner at the piano that mercifully skirts the morbid pomposity composing at that instrument so often engenders.

[17][19] (The re-release of "Walking in Memphis" replaced the original B-side, "Dig Down Deep", with a live version of "Silver Thunderbird" recorded July 17, 1991.)

"Walking in Memphis" was remade by American singer and actress Cher for her 21st studio album, It's a Man's World (1995).

[38] Her version debuted at number 11 on the UK Singles chart for the week ending October 28, 1995, with this ultimately proving its peak position.

Despite its lack of success in her native US, "Walking in Memphis" was included in the set list for Cher's 1999–2000 Do You Believe?

"[42] Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "The regular version of Marc Cohn's low key ballad doesn't do much justice to Cher's throaty voice, which needs more drama."

[citation needed] Lonestar's lead vocalist Richie McDonald recalled that, during the two years of the band's inaugural phase as a bar band, "Walking in Memphis" was a staple of their set list from the beginning: "After we got our record deal, we stopped doing [any] cover songs but ... a few years later, [we were] in Memphis, Tennessee getting ready to do a benefit for St. Jude's down on Beale Street" – i.e. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – "[and] we thought this would be a good time to do 'Walking in Memphis,' because we were right there on Beale ... One of the label guys was there [and] said, "Y'all should record that."

[62] English heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury covered the song a capella adopted into "Walking in Las Vegas", during the post-fight interview to celebrate the victory against Deontay Wilder in their third fight, which ended in an 11th–round knockout.

Cohn, who had not given the duo permission to change "Walking in Memphis", filed an injunction on the grounds of moral rights to prevent the single's release.

[66] In 1996, German hard dance band Scooter released a similar cover entitled "I'm Raving"[69] as a single from their album Wicked!.

Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote about the song, "Remember Marc Cohn's beautiful piano ballad Walking In Memphis?

"[70] In the November 20, 2021, episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Simu Liu, cast member Pete Davidson performed "Walking in Staten" along with Cohn, country pop artist Big Wet, and Method Man.