C80: Songs About Elvis

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Kirsty MacColl - There's a Man Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis
Kate Bush - King of the Mountain
Bruce Springsteen - Johnny Bye Bye
U2 - Elvis Presley and America
Bill Parsons - The All American Boy

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 05:11 (twenty years ago)

please for the love of god no mojo nixon

― america's next top ramen (Jody Beth Rosen), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 05:21 (twenty years ago)

Elvis—What Happened? — by Peter Holsapple
He Was the King — Neil Young
The King Is Gone (So Are You) — George Jones

― Topper, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 05:48 (twenty years ago)

Gillian Welch has a great song about Elvis, the name of which escapes me now.

― Blank Realm, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 08:50 (twenty years ago)

Prism, "Armageddon"

― Myonga Von Bontee (Myonga Von Bontee), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 09:21 (twenty years ago)

these i knew 16. Duran Duran - Hallucinating Elvis Lyrics
I was Hallucinating Elvis Hawaii to Las Vegas Special treatment all the way .
17. Bryan Adams - Hey Elvis Lyrics
Hey Elvis won`t cha come back home I left a message on your code-a-phone I tried to reach ya but I can...
18. Mark Knopfler - Calling Elvis Lyrics

others i found:

http://seek.sing365.com:8080/cgi-bin/s.cgi?q=elvis%20lyrics&kw=on

― retrogurl, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 09:36 (twenty years ago)

Gillian Welch's was 'Elvis Presley blues'

― dumdum, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 09:36 (twenty years ago)

Richard Thompson - "From Galway to Graceland"

― The Marquis of Cauliflower (noodle vague), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 09:38 (twenty years ago)

Gillian Welch

Elvis Presley Blues Lyrics

I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
Just a country boy that combed his hair
And put on a shirt his mother made and went on the air
And he shook it like a chorus girl
And he shook it like a Harlem queen
He shook it like a midnight rambler, baby
Like you never seen

I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
How he took it all out of black and white
Grabbed his wand in the other hand and he held on tight
And he shook it like a hurricane
He shook it like to make it break
And he shook it like a holy roller, baby
With his soul at stake

I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
He was all alone in a long decline
Thinking how happy John Henry was that he fell down and died
When he shook it and he rang like silver
He shook it and he shine like gold
He shook it and he beat that steam drill, baby
Well bless my soul

He shook it and he beat that steam drill, baby
Well bless my soul, what's wrong with me?

I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
I was thinking that night about Elvis
Day that he died, day that he died
Just a country boy that combed his hair
Put on a shirt his mother made and he went on the air
And he shook it like a chorus girl
He shook it like a Harlem queen
He shook it like a midnight rambler, baby
Like he never seen

― retrogurl, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 09:41 (twenty years ago)

The Kirsty McColl one is actually titled "There's A Guy Works Down the Chipshop Swears He's Elvis".

Manic Street Preachers: "Elvis Impersonator:Blackpool Pier". Not actually about Elvis, but there you go.

― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 11:44 (twenty years ago)

I think there is a Gram Parsons verse, but memory fails.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 11:54 (twenty years ago)

The Residents - Elvis & His Boss
"My son I see the sunset lies
About a baby bee."

― Øystein (Øystein), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 12:12 (twenty years ago)

"Black Velvet" by Alannah Miles or whomever

― monkeybutler, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

In My Hour Of Darkness, I think

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

According to some, "Under the Milky Way" by the Church is about Elvis' last night on Earth.

― owen moorhead (i heart daniel miller), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 13:24 (twenty years ago)

Bobby Bare's "The All-American Boy"

― footlog, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

Barry Tiffon - A Candy Bar for Elvis

― Lloyd Bonecutter (Lloyd Bonecutter), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 14:24 (twenty years ago)

Warren Zevon: Porcelain Monkey, Jesus Mentioned

― kornrulez6969 (TCBeing), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 14:27 (twenty years ago)

Loads of Nick Cave - Tupelo, Saint Huck, ummm....

― Charles Dexter (Holey), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 14:29 (twenty years ago)

Even though it came out a few years before EP died, I've always pretended the Jerry Lee Lewis's "The Hole He Said He'd Dig For Me" was about Elvis.

― Huk-L (Huk-L), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 15:32 (twenty years ago)

Gen X - "King Rocker"
Janis Martin - "My Boy Elvis"

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

The Who - "Real Good Looking Boy" or something. A recent recording.

― PJ Miller (PJ Miller 68), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 15:44 (twenty years ago)

Danny Mirror - 'I Remember Elvis Presley'. A 'cash-in on his death' UK hit in 1977 by some Belgian geezer.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 16:03 (twenty years ago)

Emmylou Harris, "Boy From Tupelo"

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 16:06 (twenty years ago)

Eurythmics, "Angel"

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 16:07 (twenty years ago)

Steve Forbert, "House of Cards" (from Young Guitar Days), which is great, if only for the line about pissing on a black cadillac. And the Parson's verse mentioned up-thread is, I think, from the song "Return of the Greivous Angel" (lyrics by Tom Brown): "The news I could bring I met up with the king / On his head an amphetamine crown / He talked about unbuckling that old bible belt / And lighted out for some desert town."

― Roy Kasten, Wednesday, 9 November 2005 16:21 (twenty years ago)

Peter & the Test Tube Babies - Elvis is Dead

― Bill E (bill_e), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 20:57 (twenty years ago)

Alex Chilton - "I Wish I Could Meet Elvis"

― A|ex P@reene (Pareene), Wednesday, 9 November 2005 21:32 (twenty years ago)

Couple 45s that could be tough finds digitally:

Audrey, "Dear Elvis"
Lou Monte, "Elvis Presley for President"

― jared, Thursday, 10 November 2005 00:00 (twenty years ago)

Paul Simon's "Graceland". Well, it's about his house.

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 10 November 2005 00:18 (twenty years ago)

doublehappys 'big fat elvis', but it's awful
prefab sprout 'jordan the comeback'

― keyth (keyth), Thursday, 10 November 2005 03:35 (twenty years ago)

Living Colour - Elvis is Dead

Probably can include Fight the Power as well.

― The Cricklewood Massive (The Cricklewood Massive), Thursday, 10 November 2005 07:10 (twenty years ago)

the odds--wendy
("i was fucking wendy, under the stairs, the night that elvis died")

does any one have this btw?

― anthony, Thursday, 10 November 2005 07:48 (twenty years ago)

Phil Lynott - The King's Call

― naranjito (Koens), Thursday, 10 November 2005 08:08 (twenty years ago)

"Listening to Elvis," Syd Straw
"The King is Gone," Ronnie McDowell
"Worthless Thing," Elvis Costello
"Elvis Presley in America," U2 (I think that's what it's called)

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 10 November 2005 11:09 (twenty years ago)

"I Try to Think About Elvis," Patty Loveless
"Amnesia," Mekons

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Thursday, 10 November 2005 11:09 (twenty years ago)

Colorblind James Experience 'Considering a Move to Memphis'

― horace broon (horace broon), Thursday, 10 November 2005 12:44 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

You are missing a number.
1. Big Train--John Fogerty
2. We Remember the King--Johnny Cash and the Class of 55
3. My Tribute to Elvis--Entire album by Merle Haggard including From Graceland to the Promised Land

― David L. Smith, Monday, 12 December 2005 12:33 (twenty years ago)

"Advertising Space" by Robbie Williams.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 12 December 2005 12:45 (twenty years ago)

seven years pass...

on a related note, can we name 10 songs where the singer busts out an Elvis imitation for a line or two? Doesn't have to be quoting Elvis lines, more like dipping into the standard Elvis voice for a few bars. The reason I ask is that Robert Plant's "hey baby"s at the end of "Fool In the Rain" sound a little Elvis-y. Thanks!

― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 29 October 2013 23:35 (twelve years ago)

^^"Man on The Moon"

― A Made Man In The Mellow Mafia (C. Grisso/McCain), Tuesday, 29 October 2013 23:43 (twelve years ago)

oh yeah, thanks C. Grisso! Stipe doing Kaufman doing Elvis, no less. I'm surprised that more singers haven't done this

― Iago Galdston, Tuesday, 29 October 2013 23:46 (twelve years ago)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/82/245957988_65372207c0.jpg

― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Wednesday, 30 October 2013 00:04 (twelve years ago)

Chris Houston - "Baby Jesus Looks Like Elvis"
Blue Mountain - "Epitaph"
The Residents' "the baby king" interludes all over The King and Eye (in order, though!) would spice up any compilation

Need to second, and emphasize, Nick Cave's "Tupelo"

Ron Hynes' "Cryer's Paradise" is largely about Elvis; Hynes also breaks into a funny little Elvis impersonation toward the end of the song.

― Has talent, needs to figure out how to improve (staggerlee), Wednesday, 30 October 2013 17:07 (twelve years ago)

Cowboy Junkies - Blue Moon Revisited (Song for Elvis)

Not sure if it's actually about him, but at least he's referenced.

― Mule, Wednesday, 30 October 2013 17:32 (twelve years ago)

Scott Walker - Jesse

― Admin is dead, e/t is permitted (Jon Lewis), Wednesday, 30 October 2013 17:41 (twelve years ago)

five years pass...

Slade: "Far Far Away" ("I've sang the glory that was Rome/And passed the hound-dog singer's home")

― frustration and wonky passion (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 19 July 2019 23:20 (six years ago)

Dylan - "Went to See the Gypsy"

― Brad C., Saturday, 20 July 2019 01:55 (six years ago)

Tom Jones version of Gillian Welch's "Elvis Presley Blues," the original version of which was mentioned upthread
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZnXlgKHCHk

― Ask Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 20 July 2019 01:59 (six years ago)

Is it possible that this thread does not yet mention Belle & Sebastian’s “A Century of Elvis”?

― Ask Heavy Manners (James Redd and the Blecchs), Saturday, 20 July 2019 02:27 (six years ago)

three years pass...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi79WixayY8
Jimmy Webb, “Elvis and Me”

― The Dark End of the Tweet (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 27 November 2022 14:00 (three years ago)

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