Lord, help me walk another mile, just one more mile
I’m tired of walkin’ all alone
Lord, help me smile another smile, just one more smile
You know I just can’t make it on my ownI never thought I needed help before
I thought that I could get by, by myself
But now I know I just can’t take it any more
With a humble heart, on bended knee
I’m beggin’ You, please, help meCome down from your golden throne to me, to lowly me
I need to feel the touch of Your tender hand
Remove the chains of darkness let me see, Lord let me see
Just where I fit into Your master planI never thought I needed help before
I thought that I could get by, by myself
But now I know I just can’t take it any more
With a humble heart, on bended knee
I’m beggin’ You, please, help meWith a humble heart, on bended knee
I’m beggin’ You, please, help me
It’s not a secret that I have a thing for the King. As a girl, I swooned over his movie-star good looks, melted at how he adored his Mama, and relished his velvety soft and powerful voice. Still do.
But Elvis cut his teeth on Gospel music. Down home. On his Mama’s knee. In revival tents with his Daddy and his cousins by his side.
an MJ favorite; image from amazon.com
In challenging times, it’s where he retreated to. It’s what he sang to relax and come down from all the emotions poured out in concert. And, yes, it’s where I go in my darkest hours but, just as often, it’s where I visit in my happiest, too.
I adore his upbeat tempos and thoughtful ballads but when I hear his version of Gospel … I’m all in.
Say what you want about the Karate moves, jumpsuits and capes; I get it. There’s just something so stirring about a talented and charismatic icon admitting that he, too, got down on a bended knee and asked for help. His humanity reminds me I can, also.
“Since I was two years old, all I knew was Gospel music. That music became such a part of my life it was as natural as dancing. A way to escape from the problems. And my way of release.”
reprinted in Elvis in His 0wn Words, 1977
Oh, MJ, I love this post, and I love you for writing it. I’m not an overly huge fan of Elvis, but I do appreciate gospel music and it’s ability to connect to the soul of person in both good times and bad.
Well said, my friend!
Hugs,
Kathy
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy.
I grew up with Elvis. Literally. We had 3 channels, 1 of them French, and an Elvis movie on the TV made for a wonderful night. I loved his looks, his charm, his talent and his soul. One of my best days ever was during a layover in Memphis https://emjayandthem.com/2011/08/11/making-the-most-of-my-layover/
Thank you for reading, and thank you for understanding, even if you don’t feel quite the same about him as I do. We connected anyways and that’s what matters 🙂
MJ
Elvis put the deepest feeling in his religious music – in my opinion. The rest was upbeat and fun, but his gospel was and is spellbinding.
I agree; I love the fun, bouncy stuff but the pull for me comes when I hear him soulfully sing Gospel.
Cheers Renee!
MJ
Awesome! I still have quite a few of his albums. The vinyl ones. How Great Thou Art is one of my favs. Gives me chills. I was and still am Johnny Cash fan. His Gospel recordings do for me what Elvis does for you. I have a box set of Johnny reading the entire Bible. It’s fantastic! Thanks for this blog!
How fun that you still have some of the vinyls; I’m pretty sure Mom has a few left as well. She took us to see Johnny Cash when I was 9 and I’ve never forgotten 1) how tall he was, 2) how powerful his voice was and 3) how pretty his little wife, June, was. And her kicking off her shoes to dance a jig on stage.
I’d love to hear those bible recordings you speak of … Wow!
Cheers to you and thanks for visiting; MJ
No better music for a retreat or a good talkin’ to…..you reminded me–thanks!
That’s it .. in a nutshell. His Gospel music just takes me to a good place, every time.
Safe travels .. MJ
I grew up listening to Elvis (my sisters were teens when I was born). I remember going to an Elvis movie when I was still young enough to want to take my doll baby with me. It’s so sad that his life ended the way it did.
Yes my older sisters had moved on to other artists but I was still quite firmly stuck on him. I agree; so sad that his life ended the way it did. When I see those later images of him, all bloated and ill, I think of this song and all of those people around him who never helped him. Tragic.
MJ
My love for Elvis was born from the G.I. Blues album that my mom played often when we were growing up. I couldn’t get enough of Blue Suede Shoes!
That’s a great song and one that’s fun to get “jiggy” with it 🙂
MJ