Three weeks ago, when I was doing research for the article “Elvis Has Left The Building,” I learned something about Wikipedia. If you type Songs About Elvis in the search box, it comes up with a list of 112 songs. About half of them were by people or groups I had never heard of, but some of the familiar names have songs with interesting lyrics. Here is a sampling.
He Was the King – Neil Young
Neil Young wrote this song with many verses that traced Elvis’ entire life as an entertainer. Except for the reference to pills in one verse, I found it to be the best lyrics in the group. Unfortunately, it appeared on one of Young’s least popular albums, Prairie Wind.
Back To Tupelo – Mark Knopfler
You may know Mark Knopfler as the front man of the group Dire Straits. His ode to Elvis song appeared on his solo album Shangri La.
(619) 239-KING – Mojo Nixon
Most of Mojo Nixon’s songs are raunchy and funny, but he played it pretty straight on this CD single release.
Black Velvet – Alannah Myles
I never listened to the lyrics of this big hit closely enough to realize they were about Elvis.
Disgraceland – Alice Cooper
This song was included on his Dragontown album. I expected the lyrics to be disturbing, and they were. Here is the only verse worth including.
Elvis – Sister Hazel
I thought this was a woman, but it’s a five-man band. Their song is more about a velvet Elvis painting than Elvis himself, and it appeared on their Fortress album.
Boy From Tupelo – Emmylou Harris
This soulful song tells of a spurned lover going away and disappearing like the buffalo, Elvis, and the five and dime stores. Harris included it on her album Red Dirt Girl.
Elvis and I – Denis Leary
I never knew he was a singer as well as a comedian. I never knew he spelled his name Denis. I also couldn’t find a picture of the album Other Songs D-K that this one came from.
Elvis and Andy — Confederate Railroad
There are probably plenty of Elvis fans who also love Andy Griffith and the Mayberry gang. Confederate Railroad celebrates one of them on this song from their album Notorious.
Elvis Has Left the Building – Jerry Reed
Elvis recorded four songs Jerry Reed wrote, including the hits “Guitar Man” and “U.S. Male.” Reed also had a hit in 1967 with a song about Elvis, “Tupelo Mississippi Flash.” He wrote a second Elvis song and sang it with other country stars on the album Old Dogs.
Elvis on Velvet – Stray Cats
The Stray Cats patterned their music after the Rockabilly sound of the early Elvis Records. They also released this single about him.
I Saw Mr. Presley Tip-toeing Through the Tulips – Tiny Tim
Fortunately, the lyrics of this song are better than the artwork on the Tiny Tim album where it appeared.
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