Ronnie Dunn – That’s How I Got to Memphis (Tribute Tom T. Hall)

About the Song

When Ronnie Dunn takes on a song like “That’s How I Got to Memphis,” it’s not just a cover — it’s a quiet homage to one of country music’s most revered storytellers, Tom T. Hall. Featured on his 2020 solo album Re-Dunn, Ronnie’s version of the classic track brings new emotional depth to a song that has long stood as a masterpiece of subtle, aching simplicity.

Originally written and recorded by Tom T. Hall in 1969, “That’s How I Got to Memphis” is a deeply human story of love, regret, and quiet determination. It’s the tale of a man who journeys not for glory or recognition, but for a chance to understand — or simply to be near — the one he’s lost. The lyrics are spare but powerful, and in the right hands, the song can cut straight to the soul.

Ronnie Dunn, with his soulful baritone and decades of experience conveying heartbreak and longing, is the perfect artist to bring this song to life for a new generation. He doesn’t over-sing it. Instead, he leans into the restraint that made the original so powerful, letting the story unfold naturally, with each line soaked in unspoken emotion. There’s pain in his voice, but also grace — the kind of grace that comes from lived experience and deep respect for the craft.

The entire Re-Dunn project was Ronnie’s way of revisiting the songs that shaped him, and few tracks on the album feel more personal than this one. “That’s How I Got to Memphis” is a song that speaks softly, but it lingers — and in Ronnie Dunn’s voice, it becomes both a tribute to Tom T. Hall and a timeless reminder of how music can tell the stories we sometimes can’t say out loud.

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