First time I heard this it felt like a miracle - like all that stuff, all that history of race and music, all that tender comprehension and compassion- somebody who can sing packed all of that into one short song ? So deft and swift and the harmonies so sweet & blue? You could build a class around the fit of language to story. A jewel.
Perfection. All my feelings about Elvis seemed complicated until that August 16 when he died. I heard it on the radio as I was driving home in Memphis, and I had to pull my car over to the side of the road. I was 23, and I couldn’t breathe. This song is everything real about Elvis, beyond any of the stories that are told. I play it without fail on the day of his death and his birthday.
I contend that any song Gilliam Welch lends her voice too, immediately becomes the best song ever written on that topic, my God there is no one who sings like her.
I was working as a lighting guy on the movie Grease when I heard Elvis died. My heart still is in pain. I love him and all the joy he gave me in my life. I am so glad and proud to have lived in the era of Elvis.
Just a country boy, who combed his hair, Put on a shirt that his mother made, And went on the air…Just sublime, the lyrics, the harmonies, the beautiful guitars…
I've always believed that getting the right two voices together is THE most important aspect off a flawless harmony. They can both have their PhD's in vocal music, and that's not as important. They can individually have incredible voices, but that's not as important. One or both can even have only a mediocre voice alone, and that doesn't really matter. But when they sing together, it creates such a sound of oneness and synergy as to be almost hypnotic. David and Gillian have this in spades.
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'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree On a fuzzy tree 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 you never seen
This is a perfect song! The minor key, the lyricism and the marvelous harmonies all fit in a complete frame!! Thank from the bottom of my heart. Blessings and safety to you both. A truly inimitable perfect performance 👏 👌
it does not get any better then this, incredible vocals which harmonize perfectly together, guitar playing is nothing short of genius. The song itself is a Masterpiece. A wonderful tribute to Elvis, very well written. I also love the tone David gets from that vintage 1935 epiphone arch top guitar.
This is a profound song , it' expresses the grist of what Elvis did . Stripped down to the shining glorious bones . If you love Elvis you cannot be moved by this cutting deep beautiful tribute . It's the hook that catches in your throat . Sublime , does not diminish after many listens . Thankyou Dankie
Out of interest, what genre of Elvis don't you like: blues, country, Gospel, Rock 'n' Roll, even jazz? Elvis was a genuine force of nature, an exemplary vocalist and a humanitarian. Little Richard, Crudup, Big Mamma Thornton, James Brown, Johny Cash, etc,- all these cats loved the guy, so he HAD to have had something.
Personally, I'm not a big fan of Country music at all!! BUT Just ran across this artist tonight cause for some reason, this song came up while jamming to tunes, then the studio version of this came on and OMG I was Absolutely Floored!! Never Ever even heard of her and don't know why this even got in my playlist but WOW, So Impressed Me!!!
They shocked the #@#& outta me the first time I heard ‘em. Years ago, their first album and I think their first time on Austin City Limits. With the TV muted, I was cleaning house and about to vacuum the floor when I happen to look up and see these two. The guy was obviously in the middle of a guitar solo moving around kinda weirdly. So I Stood there, unmuted the tube, and ending up standing in that same position, frozen, staring and listening two ‘em. I was blown away!
Brilliant lyrics, conveys the great affection for Elvis. Of course - as I'm sure someone else has mentioned - the song and guitar part are based on Mississippi John Hurt's version of 'Spike Driver Blues.' That song was about John Henry, the railroad spike driver, but Elvis is more relevant to us today, so a nice update on the tradition. I wonder what both Elvis and John Hurt would have thought about this.
Since the first time I saw David Rawlings playing that little Epiphone I have been in love with it. The archtop is the way a guitar should be made and that one has a voice like an angel. 75 or 80 years old and still singing in the hands of a master, wow. The song is amazing as is Ms Welch but man that guitar.
And thankfully, he and Gillian do not put those damn pickups in their acoustic guitars, but play them directly into microphones so we can actually hear what they sound like.
I was never into elvis really. But this song makes me appreciate him. I love this song. Also, I was so-so into gillian welch until I saw this duo live and now I love them both. David Rawlings is hilarious too!!
The choice to start the chorus on the minor chord is what really makes this song interesting to me... it would have been easy to make this a two-chord song and return to familiar territory on the chorus, but the inclusion of the VI makes it so sweet and melancholy. Beautiful song.
Just gorgeous harmonies, wonderful sound on the guitar. I love the song and the honor bestowed upon the Greatest Interpreter of the World's Songs. Thank you for this.
(INTRO) Gillian: "I wanted to see if the sun was down yet - We don't dip into the dark and pitiful numbers until - We got a little while to go..." Hmmmm hmmm mmm... 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, he combed his hair And put on a shirt his mother made and went on the air Well 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, never seen, like you never seen I was thinking that night about Elvis The day that he died, day that he died I was thinking that night about Elvis The day that he died, the day that he died Cause he took it all out of black and white Grabbed it one in the other hand and he held on tight And he shook it like a hurricane And he shook it like to make it break And he shook it like a holy roller, baby With his soul at stake, with his soul at stake, 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 lucky 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, bless my soul He shook it and he beat that steam drill, baby Well bless my soul, what's a wrong with me? I'm itchin' like a man on a fuzzy tree, on a fuzzy tree, a fuzzy tree 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, he combed his hair Put on a shirt his mother made and he went on the air And he shook it like a chorus girl And he shook it like a Harlem queen And he shook it like a midnight rebel, baby Like you never seen, never seen, like you never seen, never seen
Very well done song from stellar artists. It has a tragic undertone, bittersweet. Beautiful but painful to listen to, if you really loved him. They captured all the emotions, a haunting view into the history of the King. Whoever wrote this song was a genius.
Thank you very much for posting this. I've been looking for it since i saw it about a year ago. The timing and harmony between these two is fantastic. Undoubtedly one of the best parnerships of all time.
I sould have told you before how you and David have brightened up my life and how you wrote the best tribute song to Elvis Presley .....and I know we all have our faults , but as long as we have people like you and your beautiful songs..I guess we're gonna be okay....
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, like you never seen, 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, with his soul at stake, 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, 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, never seen, like he never seen, never seen
...And the crowd's like, "Just another world-class performance. Ho-hum." They're the ones who ring like silver & shine like gold!!! I think I'll listen again. :)
Sometimes musicians produce perfect works of art. I think Gillian Welch, and her guitar playing partner, have produced one here. I think this stands up there with Don McLean's "Vincent", The Rolling Stones "Sympathy for the Devil", The Beatles "Yesterday" and Johnny B Good by almost anyone. This list is not exhaustive by any means.
Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile play this every night in the encore and let me tell you I thought it was the best song of the night when I saw the show.
Does anyone else listen to this and WONDER at the beauty and uniqueness of the song? I understand Elvis isn't as much of a "thing" as he was a few years ago, but the vibe is so different. It's also fun to listen to Joan Baez's version - slower and much darker.
I just heard someone use an AI program to beautifully and instantaneously reproduce a popular song, and this song has never been more meaningful to me. Bless your soul.
Try the Louvin Brothers, Everly Brothers, Glaser Brothers and many more. Gillian and Dave are as good as anyone. But blood harmony is hard to top. Just my humble opinion.
This song was the first time I encountered Gillian Welch. I have valued her recordings ever since. On rewatching this I was reminded that I have thought their "Act" should have a Name, and have two members, for surely there is a great contribution by David?
I would guess that there are not too many around who could do a blues about Elvis in the style of Mississippi John Hurt and pull it off. Bold and brilliant.
