Finally Watched it... Elvis Presley - In the Ghetto First Time Reaction 

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Elvis grew up in a ghetto within the black community. He understood what life was like there.

Elvis was told not to record this but he insisted. This man never forgot the poverty he came from.

Elvis grew up very poor & lived in Black Part of town & grew up with Black Kids from his neighborhood. He went to a Black Church with his friends & sang in the choir. It seems that’s where he started singing & dancing. That’s why he sang a lot of gospels because that was part of his roots. His backup singers included the Sweet Inspirations & one of these female singers was Whitney Houston’sMother. He was initially hated by White Racists because they thought some of his songs were influenced by Black Music which it was.

Elvis grew up very poor and appreciated what help he and his family were given during those times. His friend, Mac Davis, wrote this. R.I.P to both

It's infuriating and heartbreaking that this song from my childhood could have been written today and is still true.

He sang it. Cause He felt it. He felt it. That's why he sang it. 👑♥️👑👌

Not new to me and Elvis never once turned his head away because your people were his people. He was pure love and the world needed him longer than 42 years. Thank you.

Such a powerful song that tells the story of the cycle of poverty, and so sad that Chicago and other inner cities have had this cycle in abundance for decades and it hasn’t gotten better. Elvis grew up impoverished and connected with this song. I think it speaks to his heart for those in need. Having been there, he never forgot what it was like.

53 years later and still as relevant as it was in 1969 when he recorded his song 😢😊

Incredible song written by the late great Mac Davis. (1942-2020). Mr. Davis also wrote "Don't Cry Daddy" about a man whose wife leaves him, leaving him alone to raise their children. Thank you Mac,for offering this song to Elvis to record. "He recorded it, and I am glad he did."

Powerful song! Elvis loved everybody ⚡️

Elvis wanted people to see and help those less fortunate.

I first heard this back in the 70’s when my parents played Elvis. This has always been one of my favorites….it reaches into your soul.

It was frowned upon at the time for Elvis to sing this song but he did it anyway!

it's so sad that this song still hold as true today as it did 50 years ago when it first came out.

Like someone said, don't judge a book.... white man singing about the ghetto and nailing it is possible... your pause and restart having taken a moment to assess speaks volumes. Not all white folk look at the ghetto without heart... some of us were raised in the "ghetto" they just called it the slums... I'm pulling for us both! Peace!

I want to say thank you for not stopping the music to give your reaction. Some songs from Elvis should be listened to in it's entirety to get fill meaning in the song. So again I thank you.

I first heard this song in 1969, when I was 12 years old. It's the first song I recall whose lyrics reached into my heart and profoundly affected me spiritually. It's been one of my favorite songs ever since then.

My Mom was 9mths pregnant (w me😊) when she was arrested while marching w MLK in front of a TN restaurant that didn’t allow blacks to dine inside. This was her 2nd favorite Elvis song & we heard it often growing up. Her 1st- If I Can Dream (look for the 68 Special, white suit video), and 3rd- Walk A Mile In My Shoes (look for live w/story video). All 3 songs were not only played often & early lol- they were mantras, models by which my parents raised myself & my siblings. How incredibly blessed we were!❤️ If you’ve not seen the minidoc (14mins) Elvis & The Black Community: That Echo Will Never Die, it’s a MUST. You’ll learn much about Elvis as both a person and a performer. Much shorter but also worthy: Paul Harvey’s The Rest of The Story: Elvis, Poor Boy & a Guitar. The song’s writer Mac Davis originally took the song to the late GREAT African American triple threat talent Sammy Davis Jr. He said- I’m sorry; I can’t sing this song. I don’t know how; I’ve never lived this way. But I know who has… take it to my friend Elvis Presley. It’s EXTRAORDINARILY sad so little seems to have changed😔 We are counting on your generation!!!!💔❤️‍🩹❤️ Another nice reaction; Thank You! Stay safe & love much💖

ELVIS grew up in a black and poor community , He loved black people and as a child he played with black children and would sing with the older people. He never looked down on them, He loved all people, no one can take that away from Him.

Elvis was so beautiful in every way. This song may be re-done BUT it could never sound THIS good!

One of his back up singers was Whitney Houston’s mother Cissy Houston. Elvis also grew up in the ghetto.

the studio version is more somber and hits even harder.

Nancy Sinatra tells the story of phoning Elvis to congratulate him on the birth of his daughter. She said he was bothered about the fact that his daughter would have a life that millions of others wouldn't have. She ended with "he particularly talked about the black kids." Two years later he was handed this song.

if you watch Elvis and the Black Community documentary part 1 and part 2..it will give you a lot of insight about Elvis, his life, and what he stood for.🥰

BRO, ELVIS personally knew what the ghetto was and is. He was one of a handful of "white" families in his neighborhood of Tupelo, Mississippi. A good video to react to is, "ELVIS and The Black Community, That Echo Will Never Die". This video is biographical in a sense, as it shows a young ELVIS and the struggles he endured while growing up; and the reaction to his music because of the times he lived in. THANK YOU!

Kentucky rain is another powerful song he sang.

Thank you for listening to the whole song and not pausing it. You got the full affect of the words!!

Great reaction. Elvis grew up in Tupelo Mississippi ghetto. Presley’s moved to projects in Memphis when Elvis was 14. They lived in multiple ones until he made it.

Elvis grew up in Tupelo Mississippi dirt poor. And remember, he performed this one in 70 I think

Elvis grew up in the Ghetto too! He truly loved the blues and BB King etc. He was a good man who believed segregation needed to end!

Quite few times Elvis was told don't sing this song or that song don't sing gospel in the fifties don't sing g I have a dream in the 60s don't sing in the ghetto it will harm your career so what did Elvis sing them that's how much he cared.

Elvis felt this song, he grew up in the ghetto. Tupelo Mississippi's poorest neighborhood.

I HAVE TO SCREAM THIS OUT... HE WAS IN LAS VAGAS HE WAS TOLD HE SHOULD NOT DO THIS SONG. WATCH HIM NO SMILE AND HE TILTS HIS HEAD DOWN TO AUDIENCE ARE WE TURN OUR HEADS. AT THE END HE STARES AT THE CAMERA. AND THATS THE WAY HE ENDED IT. SERIOUSLY. LOVE TO ALL💥💥💥💥💥

Elvis was born in a 2 room shack of a house his dad built with money he borrowed from his boss on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. That's how dirt poor they were. He was one half of identical twins; the other boy - Jesse Garon - was stillborn. They were so poor, that Jesse Garon was buried in a shoebox in an unmarked grave. At Graceland they have a plaque with his name on it in his memory. Elvis always got along with the black community and learned a lot about music from his friends of color. Also, according to the one drop rule, Elvis would not be considered white, since he has Cherokee ancestors on both the Smith (his mother) and the Presley (his father) sides of the family. His paternal grandfather was not happy that his two sons, Elvis' father Vernon and his brother Vester, married two sisters, Gladys and Clettes who were known to have Cherokee blood in their family tree. But he was in denial about the Cherokee blood in his own family tree. As a child, Elvis already had many friends in the black community at the time his family was one of 4 "white" families that lived in the predominantly black neighborhood The Hill, just across from Shake Rag. His childhood friend Sam Bell said that some of the (black) kids in that neighborhood had lighter skin than Elvis (ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LrFCyNMvZWk.html). One of Elvis' bodyguards once said that he thought it was a miracle Elvis got into Humes High School in Memphis, because it was "lily white". Elvis wanted to be more open about his Native ancestry, but his manager "colonel" Tom Parker (real name Andreas van Kuijk) was against it because he was afraid it might cost Elvis fans (and himself money). They did have Elvis play characters in his movies though where he had Native American blood (Flaming Star, G.I. Blues, Stay Away Joe). Once Elvis had his own (apprentice) job learning to be an electrician, he saved up his money and bought his clothes in the same style that many of his friends of color wore. He was called a (forgive me, just stating facts here) "n-lover" and got beaten up several times too. Later, when he was an established star, he would not perform at places where the members of color of his back-up band/orchestra weren't allowed.

The ghetto was a step up from where Elvis grew up. Next Elvis song: IF I CAN DREAM. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you for this young sir. I grew up on a "reservation" a different type of ghetto. I get this and I understand. Please keep up the awesome reaction videos. Made me subscribe

Thanks for showcasing the song and this wonderful performance by Elvis. It was obvious that you were moved by it. And thanks, too, for NOT stopping the video repeatedly as many reactionists do.

I could see the emotion flowing through you as the song flowed to its conclusion, its only now people are starting to realise how much Elvis cared about his community. Such a wonderful singer who could draw the emotion out of you.😊🌏

Elvis in the Black Community..short documentary Song..If I Could Dream Live...he decided this song to MLK after assassination..Fantastic Performance...Heartfelt

This makes me cry

Best reaction so far ! The fact you got so caught up in the song and did not pause it . Speaks volumes thank you

Elvis was born into poverty in Memphis Tennessee and he never forgot about where he came from and the people he grew up with

Love your reaction. More Elvis please 💕💕💕💕

The song was written by Mac Davis, and Elvis' manager forbid him to sing it. But Elvis did it anyway. It was big hit for him as well. One of the lady backup vocals was Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother.

Elvis grew up on the poor side of Tupelo Mississippi in the middle of the Great Depression.

Respect to Polo, he listened to the whole song and then gave his review. More people should show the same level of respect toward the artists instead of stopping and starting the song to review it during the clip. Well done Polo! Respect and Love ❤

Elvis 🤜🏼🤛🏼 forever❤

Elvis shining a light on a problem we're still living with over 50 years later..The Presley's put their money wear their mouth is with Presley Place in Memphis that houses homeless people also helps with food..jobs lots of other stuff until they can get on their feet..Amazing!👍💙

Bridge Over Troubled Water live in Vegas is another one of MANY great songs worth checking out from the King. ✌🏼✌🏼

What a great reaction. Thank you.

One of Elvis' backup singers on this song was one Emily "Cissy" Houston, then the mother of a six-year-old girl named Whitney. You _might_ have heard of her.

Thank you for playing Elvis Presley love it 🙏👍❤️💕💕💖

Elvis was and always will be the first singer to understand what's going on in the world of music

This song makes me cry every time I hear it! His voice and heart are so smooth in the song.

Beautiful Track…perfect…A+ man. Nah not just Chicago…an example of all ghettos

Great reaction, thank you for this one.

Enjoyed your reaction Young Man. Happy for You that You made the right choices when you were Younger. Please note that the Song Never Mentions Race.

I so appreciated the way you listened to a song made over 50 years ago.

Elvis grew up very poor, in Tennessee, spent his time with the black community & their church as well as his poor mamas baptist church, he had nothing except his voice 💜. You’ll notice he didn’t mention colour in the incredible song, he didn’t have to people knew his life & message. If you want to see another side of Elvis, check out his Gospel recordings! He won more awards for Gospel than his other genres 💥🥰☮️💜 Sending greetings from Canada 🇨🇦

The new Elvis movie shows a lot that most people did not know.

The Ghetto, is a place many people around the world can relate to. I was born in Liverpool, England in 1970. We had nothing at all. I remember coming home from school with my brother, and we were hungry. Our father was gone. Our Mother worked late. The only thing in the house to eat was one egg in the fridge. I cooked it , and cut it in half for myself and brother to eat. I’ve never told that story to anyone.

Elvis was very concerned about children not having a chance in life. He never looked at the color of a person's skin, he just loved people.

If I can dream. Please next. Elvis is a beautiful person. Elvis and the Blk community, part 1 and part 2. Rap stars incorporated this song in their music. (In the Ghetto). Must see. Great reaction, thank you.

What a giant of a human being. Never really got to much into his music but something about this song and the soul behind it resonates.

Excellent song written by the late great Mac Davis.

I get goosebumps when I hear this.

Elvis grew up fairly poor in a shotgun house in Tupelo. Unfortunately he was taken advantage of. He did not get much of an education. He died at 42. Very sad but he made a lot of music that will live on.

Hi Polo, I found your channel a few minutes ago when you played In The Ghetto for the first time. I did subscribe to your channel. I wanted to share this long comment with you to shed a little light on another problem that is relevant today. Ever since I was a little girl, every time I heard this song I would cry. I cannot say that I grew up in the ghetto, but I did grow up in a home where violence happened more often than not, where domestic abuse was the way of life in my family. Elvis also recorded a song called "Daddy please don't cry" and "Daddy don't you walk so fast" about losing love and l believe the 2nd song was about divorce. While neither song touches the depth of feeling that "in the ghetto" does, the subject matter is still true and happening in today's society. If you haven't really listened to a lot of the songs that Elvis recorded during his career, Polo, I suggest that you may find several songs that can and most likely will touch you in a visceral way. We all lost so much in 1977 when he died. I used to imagine him smiling down on everyone when his songs were played. If you like gospel music, his cover of How Great Thou Art will send chills down your spine. Thank you for playing in the ghetto today. I pray every day for the racial injustice and unrest to stop. It is one of the worst issues going on worldwide and change can only be made when one by one, people stop their own racial injustice and stop their own stupidity. Again, thank you.

Love this song because my mom is a big Elvis fan and I grew up in the ghetto

There is a great documentary "Elvis and the black community" which picks up why his song meant a lot to him

Like your reaction.Wheres your Thank you button Polo.💗

Still cry Every time I hear this song! ❤️

One of the songs Mac Davis wrote for Elvis.

Elvis was raised in Gospel

Elvis may have used Chicago in this song, but a lot of fans knew he was singing about his own upbringing in the poor side of Mississippi.

Hey mate dont apologize or be embarrassed for coming from ghetto You've done what you had to survive and the others in the gettos need people like yourself to shine and show them hope that their is a better way of life other then the getto life and it what you want and make of your life is what you'll get and nothing good comes easy Cheers mate from Aussie giuy

You can tell a song really hits you when you don’t say a word the whole time.

Love your reactions man. Keep up the good work.

You can’t go wrong with anything by Elvis. This and Kentucky rain are my favorite.

He also grew up in the poor part of town. He was a twin, (the first born twin died at birth), knowing that he was an only child and was very protected by his Mother, she kept him near and always watched over him, the two were very close until her death, while he was in the army, he was about 22. 🙏✝❤🇺🇸

Brilliant reaction to a superb song. Three 6 Mafia have done a remix of this (feat. Elvis) and is covered in the short documentary 'Elvis and the Black Community'. It really is a great watch and gives deeper insights into Elvis and his music. It also dispels any rumours that he was racist.

Polo....I knew this song touched you personally so thank you for sharing the connection. I was a teenager when this song came out. I clearly remember the impact on me...I decided at that time to work for change..I became a social worker and have spent my life working for change and helping. Thank you Polo..this touched my heart

This song makes me cry, pretty much always has.... as the words are so true.

Im watching your reaction and can see your mind watching and feeling every word Elvis is singing…….Ive seen lots of these reaction videos to this song,you sir,bought me to tears 💕💕💕

Nobody could do it better than Elvis period

BEAUTIFUL AMAZING BEAUTIFUL AMAZING SONG

Long live the king of rock n roll and everything else. TX. Stay well my friend.

I'm glad to know you came out the other side my Brother...check out If I Can Dream by Elvis from the 68 come back special...Elvis is wearing a white suit

He described the systemic perpetuity of being poor perfectly and sadly to this day we still haven't broken that cycle.

I was born and raised in the projects in the Boston area. (Cambridge, Ma. to be exact) It certainly wasn't an easy way to live man. I can definitely relate myself...

Can never go wrong with Elvis. My favorite is "Suspicious Minds". Which Dwight Yoakum (country) redid in the nineties. Actually my favorite. And you should check out The Dead South "In Hell I Will Be In Good Company " Something I tripped on and love the sound.

ELVIS the KING today, tomorrow and forever ❤🥰

Ghettos date back to 1516, Chicago or America was not even thought of back then. And became popular all over when the tractor toke over farm jobs, starting a migration from country side to cities.

Elvis grew up poor in the small town of Tupelo, Miss. he didn’t grow up ”the ghetto”- maybe on proverbial wrong side of the tracks, but he had black friends f grew up in the Black church and was tremendously moved by the music ….BUT, the song was written by Lubbock, Texas’ own Mac David, who also grew up poor. Mac’s father worked with a black man he was friendly with, and he had a son near Mac’s age. The two became good friends & often played together but Mac said he didn’t understand why he couldn’t go into some of the stores & cafes. Mac grew up & left Lubbock for ShowBiz and his eyes were opened. He learned about ghettos, prejudice, Jim Crow and hate. He’d written a song about the vicious cycle thst keeps some people in the ghetto-born there, raised there, die there. In the late 60’s it all came together with final rendition, entitled “In The Ghetto” , and Elvis’ people bought the rights from Mac & made him a rich & prolific songwriter. If memory serves, due to all the racial unrest of the era, Elvis controlling handler, Colonel Tom Parker didn’t want him to produce this song, but Elvis fought him hard on the issue. Its one of Elvis’ ’ prettiest, most poignant songs But the song is not autobiographical for Elvis. He loved his Black brethren & adored gospel music, but he didn’t write this song.

Song written by Mac Davis, Mac also wrote Don’t Cry Daddy ,, and my favorite song written by Mac for Elvis is Memories, look it up I Know Mac well I work for him, but that was during a time that Mac was kind lost and was dealing with a big monster, Lucky for him Mac also had a Beautiful Angle in his life He/they won the battle and I can say they lived happily Ever after. Mac was one of the most talented writer and performer. So when you think about this song In The Ghettos written by a guy from Lubbock Texas, it show you how talented and Brilliant Mac was. R.I. P Mac

Elvis grew up very poor in tupelo ms he lived in a 2 room shack that his daddy built and knows first hand about living in poverty and he grew up mostly in a black community... they wanted Sammy Davis Jr to cover this Song but Sammy turned if down and said he didn't know what it was like living in the ghetto but he knew elvis did and wanted elvis to cover this Song and as soon. As elvis heard he covered it.

Thank you I love this one Elvis was poor and atended church in the geto he loved the music

From watching your channel I've been impressed by your open mindedness, and proper speaking, but I'm particularly impressed by your intelligence. Also, it seems that you continue educating yourself - this a passion of mine. Thanks for sharing about the ghetto, and for the Rock/Metal reactions.