Everytime I hear this song my heart break's! I will not look away I will help in anyway I can! Check out Lord You Gave you a Mountain, by Elvis. God bless and Godspeed!
This is a song I’ve known about for a long time. Besides the importance of the message, what is so beautiful about this song it is that, it is not judgmental against the mother or against the baby boy, who was born into a terrible circumstance. The writer of this song tells us that the young baby IS going to be angry someday, (prophetic), that is if he does not get a helping hand from you and me seeing this unending circle. That is said when he is just a baby, innocent. Here is the judgment in this song, “Take a look at you and me, or are we too blind to see. Or do we simply turn our heads and look the other wayyyyy. While the world turns.” The judgment is strong and profound. A judgment and plea to address this vicious circle. Then the young boy, 10, 11, 12 or maybe a young teen, finds himself playing in the street. There is no park for him, no after school programs for him. So maybe he meets up with the wrong crowd. I don’t know for sure. But the anger mentioned in the beginning of the song inevitably happens. He gets a gun. ‘In desperation” the young man steals a car. Then like the news we all too often here today, a young man is killed by the police, lying face-down in the street. Today we see it as police violence and so often it is. But before the angry young man lies face down on the street, when he was an innocent kid, did we take a look at you and me and lend a helping hand to improve his lot in life. Or were we to blind to see. I have enjoyed all the reaction videos to this great song by Mac Davis, the Elvis chose to do because he wanted to do a song that was socially relevant. These are just some of the thoughts of a 62-year-old white male from Long Island, New York, now living just south of Raleigh, North Carolina, With all respect Dennis
Elvis grew up in a Tupelo, Mississippi ghetto; Dad, Vern, was in jail for bad checks. He sang in church...Gospel was his first love...he sang "That's All Right, Mama" in 1954, when a teenager for his Mother's birthday, at Sun Records. He was a Spec 4 in the Army, got out in 2 years. Released "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956 to a massive amount of controversy from religious groups because of his movements. He made a string of musical romance movies, that he didn't want to do. Finally got a decent script for "King Creole", his only b&w movie. He just wanted to make music. His singing career took a dip when his wife left him, and the Beatles arrived, his "Comeback Tour" helped immensely. When he sang "In the Ghetto", which his manager thought would kill his career, he fought to sing it, (it was written by Mac Davis) and here we are...as relevent, and often played, today as it was in 1969, when it was released. Thank you for your great reaction.
OH MY GOD!!!!! I had no idea that Elvis sung something so deep as this! As a African-American, l can truly relate. That stuff is still happening today. WOW! I’ve known a few people who’ve lived this song. You can’t fake the emotion Elvis put into this song....heartfelt. He was feeling this. The song was a worldwide hit in 1969, when l researched it. I can’t listen to this song too often....😢😢😢😔😔😔
He sings it with emotion because he grew up dirt poor in Tueplo, MS (where he was born) and later in Memphis. He basically grew up in what we call the hood today. So every word he sings on this song he has seen and been thru
Elvis loved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ! And Dr. King loved Ghandi and Ghandi loved Mother Theresa ...and they all loved Jesus Christ !!!!! These are the messages we still need in our day and age !!!! The messages that change the world haven’t changed !!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏾🙏🏿
Dont forget. Elvis grew up extremely poor. Didn't even have a pair of shoes until he was 8 years old. He was huge with giving to others when he made it big. Even gave a woman a brand new Cadillac because she liked his and she didn't have a car. Amazing
This is why he is King. He was born dirt poor. I mean his floor was dirt. Poverty is blind to color, race, and time. Elvis invokes a deep visceral emotion through his storytelling, sons and presence. Taken from this earth way too soon. And my God he was sexy in his younger days. I remember when he died. My mom came unglued and thought the world was coming to an end.
Understand that. I was 10 and when I walked into the house....I thought a grandparent had died. Literally took her 15 minutes to compose enough to tell me what was wrong. I was freaked and shaking
Your commentary is spot on. Were is the help given? We send billions overseas. The people here are in desperate situations. They should be helped first. 🙏
@@darlenecheatham7775 Mac wrote after seeing some of it Elvis recorded it after living it , you can feel the emotion of it and I reckon it is the best humanitarian song of all time, if only we would listen to it and not turn our heads the other way😊🌏
This song makes me sick, sad, and happy the Elvis had the guts to record this song even though he faced conflict for doing so. Your reaction to this song made it real to me. Keep on, keeping on..
This song was written by country artist/songwriter Mac Davis. Mac grew up in Lubbock Texas and as a child had a best buddy who was black and he could not figure out why his friend had to live in a different part of town than he. Dirt poor side of the tracks. He never forgot this as an adult and wanted to write a song about the poverty and violence that kept repeating itself called "viscous circle". He could not find a rhyme to circle and the word ghetto was just starting to become prominent. One day a friend of Mac's said I have to show you this cool new guitar lick that was shown to him by another player. Mac instantly heard "In The Ghetto" over the lick but did not say anything. He went home and finished the song by 2am that morning. Elvis was looking for new material at the time and Mac was able to get a demo of several songs to Elvis. He recorded 2, In the Ghetto was one of them. Some say this was one of Elvis's favorites because it was socially relevant and Elvis grew up so poor.. Hats off to Mac Davis for writing this song and to Elvis for having the guts to record it. Today's tears are because this song still is relevant when it should not be.
Loved your post extremely well stated I actually watched the video of Mac Davis you are referencing... although your comment was from a year ago I had to comment !
Songsjj, the last line of your comment: “Today’s tears are because this song still is relevant when it should not be.” Is absolutely priceless and very thought provoking! - A sad observation, but with much truth in every word! 😔
this song is over 50 years old, and it is still true. So ahead of his time, that is why he is the King! no record label wanted to release this, Elvis was the only performer who got to push the limits.
You're absolutly right! This song is 50 years old, but sadly it is still relevant today. He sang a lot of socialcritical songs like "If I Can Dream" Or "Walk A Mile In My Shoes". Thanks for your reaction!
@m Amina could you go to dum dum whatever his name is and give him a correction I'm calling Elvis the same thing as up one person I'm here not too long ago called him a pedophile which is better that way they don't know the definition of a pedophile this person on here called Dum Dum it's saying that he played with kids referring to how young Priscilla was when she came to Graceland which was 16 at 14 and we all know the rest of the story but I don't have a time of the patience of the willpower to tell the guy where to go but I think you would know how to do it and the right words AKA Elvis Junkie if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you what I just wrote text me and I'll try to a little plainer it just look for dumb dumb and then it looked like he had 8000 or something out there I don't know but it offends me for anyone to compare Elvis to a pedophile or to a child molester a young part the fact that he liked young women Priscilla we all know the arrangements while Priscilla was at Graceland the start with this dumb dumb down AKA Elvis Junkie
@@bamafan62 I BELIEVE THAT. THERE PEOPLE ON UTUBE CALLING ELVIS A PEDOPHILE AND MESS ONLY YOUGS. I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK UP THE MEANING OF PEDOPHILE. SHE WAS 16 WHEN SHE WRNT TO GRACELAND.21 WHEN THEY MARRIED. I HAVE NP PROBLEM WITH PRISCILLA AND ELVIS LOVE . I TAKE IP FOR HER ALL THE TIME. A.K.A ELVIS JUNKIE Saying young girls WHAT some dumb dumb dumb SAID ,NOT me
@@laurabexley9114 Hy Laura, just read this message you send 4 weeks ago. I don't know if you meant me, because of the different name. You wrote amina, not alamea. Could you clarify the problem yourself, or should i do something ? I'm so sorry! I don't know for sure if i read the message back then. If so, i would have asked if you meant me. Hope everything is ok!!! Hugs to you 💗
The first electric wheel chair in Memphis was given to a black woman by Elvis. He also one time gave a black woman he saw looking at a Caddilac in a car dealership the car she was looking at and 500 dollar check to buy clothes to match the car. Elvis was a GREAT freind to the black community and to people in genneral .
The dealership that refused to sell her a car was called Beeman's Pontiac/Cadillac in Nashville Tennessee. My husband actually saw that happen! He worked across the street at Harpeth feed store. He said it's the only time he ever saw an argument at that dealership that literally stopped traffic around it. Elvis was Furious.
And unfortunately people still turn there heads the other way, well not all people and hopefully Elvis's message is getting out to more people through these reactions, I'm sure that was Elvis's intention when he recorded this song😊🌏
"In the Ghetto" (originally titled "The Vicious Circle") is a 1969 song recorded by Elvis Presley written by Mac Davis. It was a major comeback hit released in 1969 as a 45 rpm single with "Any Day Now" as the flip side. It is a narrative of generational poverty: A boy is born to a mother who already has more children than she can feed in the ghetto of Chicago. The boy grows up hungry, steals and fights, purchases a gun and steals a car, attempts to run, but is shot and killed. The song ends with another child being born in the ghetto, and implies that the newborn could meet the same fate, continuing the cycle of poverty and violence. The feeling of an inescapable circle is created by the structure of the song, with its simple, stark phrasing; by the repetition of the phrase "in the ghetto" as the close of every fourth line; and finally by the repetition of the first verse's "and his mama cries" just before the beginning and as the close of the last verse. It is played in the key of B flat. @t
Mac Davis explains the genesis of this song which he wrote. WRZ 2020/03/21 th-cam.com/video/WGSnTfRJlCY/w-d-xo.html Story Behind the Song: 'In the Ghetto' 143,517 views•Oct 3, 2016 If you "right click" to "paste as plain text, you wouldn't get that @t when you try and paste links here. Also search youtube for an explanation of how to edit your own youtube comments
Elvis was a beautiful person inside & out, & tried very hard, to bring awareness to issues of poverty & race relations, & received a lot of bad press by doing this, but it did not stop him one bit, he just wanted a better life for everyone 💕 Great reaction!!!
In an era today of political correctness this song is a true today as it was in 1969. This is. Discussion that should be held in every city in America right now. This song speaks volumes and should be played and replayed on every radio station until the issues are aligned for better success in the American neighborhoods needing to be addressed and moved in a direction for more prosperity and compassion. The youth of today need a lifeline more of a lifeline now more than ever.
I heard this for the first time when I was 10 in 1974. I still can't listen to it without getting misty.... And I grew up happy in a small village in the mountains of Norway, I didn't even really know what a getto was..but this song..made me understand without really knowing..if it make any sense...
I was 9 and grew up in Chicago. Not in the "ghetto" which is now known as the projects, and it affected me the same. Still can't listen to it without tearing up. Especially watching someone react to it for the first time.
And the cycle is still going strong 60 years later. 😢 The saddest part is, we could end it if the wealth were distributed more fairly. But for so many, life is literally a dead end, poverty could be eradicated easily if greed was kept in check.
Time for America to stand up for children's rights, we can afford to eliminate child poverty, 60 years later and we have made no progress...shame on us...we need to stand up and vote for government that will address poverty
A very rare Elvis video..Is Baby I don't care..He is dancing n singin poolside, in his prime...The video is in black n white or color..Very short clip but epic*
Dig it* Shor....nuff...Dig it*..yes that song was 50 year's ago..As a nation...We've lost our LOGOS *..A request for Led Zeppelin live 1973 Stairway to Heaven * Sincerely. You have smooth vibe
Elvis grew up in the Lauderdale Courts housing projects in Memphis TN after his folks moved up from Mississippi, and his father did time, so he's not exactly unfamiliar with what he's singing about
One of the things he became known for was a time he saw an older black Lady admiring the new Cadillacs at a dealership . He went in and bought her the one she wanted .
I was never much of an Elvis fan. Just not my style. Yes to jazz, metal, rap (real lyrical rap, not that mumbling shiz), and probably dozens of other genres, but I've never cared for pop, and in my mind, Elvis was pop. And I still feel that way about him (and pop in general). That said, THIS ONE SONG of his is in my top list of best songs ever made in any genre by any artist. Unfortunately, ain't $hit changed much since it was written. Would not surprise me in the slightest to find that some of the same politicians are still in office today, still using the same basic problems as a platform for continued re-election.
"if I Can Dream" was written for MLK after his assassination. If I had money and if I would be welcomed there I would love to contribue time to help the poor, but honestly Im scared.
The reason this song impacts is because the Ghetto deaths of those young men or women surviving on prostitution is painful to all witnesses. The truth is we all want a better brand of humanity as God's children, no matter skin tones or social status.
Ladies and gentleman. Elvis is a product of white America. Back then white America didn't like the fact that their white girls were going to the black night clubs. So they found Elvis and made him the white prince that would get the white girls away from the black night clubs. Elvis never wrote a song in his life. All of the songs he sang were written by white people. Even this one. Now I am not saying he wasn't a good entertainer. If you want to hear a real black boys struggle. Then I highly suggest that you listen to Stevie Wonder...... Living for the city. The long version.
In bringing a human being into this world you aren't doing him or her a favor. Actually you're forcing them to experience over the course of their lives what is a sheer magnitude of an existential trauma that includes pain, fear, sickness, and death (as well as a myriad of other evils that are found and experienced only in this world).
![โฮ่ง! (SUGOI) - LYKN [ OFFICIAL MV ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/nFp4zjAARFs/mqdefault.jpg)
You are absolutely correct. God Bless You
Also Elvis loved singing about our loving God
Everytime I hear this song my heart break's! I will not look away I will help in anyway I can! Check out Lord You Gave you a Mountain, by Elvis. God bless and Godspeed!
This is a song I’ve known about for a long time. Besides the importance of the message, what is so beautiful about this song it is that, it is not judgmental against the mother or against the baby boy, who was born into a terrible circumstance. The writer of this song tells us that the young baby IS going to be angry someday, (prophetic), that is if he does not get a helping hand from you and me seeing this unending circle. That is said when he is just a baby, innocent. Here is the judgment in this song, “Take a look at you and me, or are we too blind to see. Or do we simply turn our heads and look the other wayyyyy. While the world turns.” The judgment is strong and profound. A judgment and plea to address this vicious circle.
Then the young boy, 10, 11, 12 or maybe a young teen, finds himself playing in the street. There is no park for him, no after school programs for him. So maybe he meets up with the wrong crowd. I don’t know for sure. But the anger mentioned in the beginning of the song inevitably happens. He gets a gun. ‘In desperation” the young man steals a car. Then like the news we all too often here today, a young man is killed by the police, lying face-down in the street.
Today we see it as police violence and so often it is. But before the angry young man lies face down on the street, when he was an innocent kid, did we take a look at you and me and lend a helping hand to improve his lot in life. Or were we to blind to see. I have enjoyed all the reaction videos to this great song by Mac Davis, the Elvis chose to do because he wanted to do a song that was socially relevant.
These are just some of the thoughts of a 62-year-old white male from Long Island, New York, now living just south of Raleigh, North Carolina,
With all respect
Dennis
Elvis grew up in a Tupelo, Mississippi ghetto; Dad, Vern, was in jail for bad checks. He sang in church...Gospel was his first love...he sang "That's All Right, Mama" in 1954, when a teenager for his Mother's birthday, at Sun Records. He was a Spec 4 in the Army, got out in 2 years. Released "Heartbreak Hotel" in 1956 to a massive amount of controversy from religious groups because of his movements. He made a string of musical romance movies, that he didn't want to do. Finally got a decent script for "King Creole", his only b&w movie. He just wanted to make music. His singing career took a dip when his wife left him, and the Beatles arrived, his "Comeback Tour" helped immensely. When he sang "In the Ghetto", which his manager thought would kill his career, he fought to sing it, (it was written by Mac Davis) and here we are...as relevent, and often played, today as it was in 1969, when it was released. Thank you for your great reaction.
God bless.
So powerful thank you 🙏🏼
I just love you there is not much to say after that song he says it all its a Mad world
From Mitzy
Montreal Québec Canada
He was my first concert, I was in L.A. when he passed, I had to pull my car over, I was crying so hard😭...yes I'm old, lol
OH MY GOD!!!!! I had no idea that Elvis sung something so deep as this! As a African-American, l can truly relate. That stuff is still happening today. WOW! I’ve known a few people who’ve lived this song. You can’t fake the emotion Elvis put into this song....heartfelt. He was feeling this. The song was a worldwide hit in 1969, when l researched it. I can’t listen to this song too often....😢😢😢😔😔😔
He sings it with emotion because he grew up dirt poor in Tueplo, MS (where he was born) and later in Memphis. He basically grew up in what we call the hood today. So every word he sings on this song he has seen and been thru
Elvis loved Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. ! And Dr. King loved Ghandi and Ghandi loved Mother Theresa ...and they all loved Jesus Christ !!!!!
These are the messages we still need in our day and age !!!!
The messages that change the world haven’t changed !!!!
🙏🏼🙏🏾🙏🏿
Dont forget. Elvis grew up extremely poor. Didn't even have a pair of shoes until he was 8 years old. He was huge with giving to others when he made it big. Even gave a woman a brand new Cadillac because she liked his and she didn't have a car. Amazing
This is why he is King. He was born dirt poor. I mean his floor was dirt. Poverty is blind to color, race, and time. Elvis invokes a deep visceral emotion through his storytelling, sons and presence. Taken from this earth way too soon. And my God he was sexy in his younger days. I remember when he died. My mom came unglued and thought the world was coming to an end.
Understand that. I was 10 and when I walked into the house....I thought a grandparent had died. Literally took her 15 minutes to compose enough to tell me what was wrong. I was freaked and shaking
This song brings tears to my eyes every time👍🏻👍🏻😭
This is my favorite Elvis song...Unfortunately, it still rings true today...God change this world!!
He was terribly poor growing up. He knew poverty and bad times. He became so generous and he did a lot of it anonymously. May he RIP
You pulling those eye lashes. . . . damn those beauties must be real! :-))
We have Ghetto's in the South, too!!! Anywhere you have poverty and injustice, there is a GHETTO!!!
Of course
50 years ago he did this song. Shouldn't still be a problem.
Yes it is sad. Beautiful man.
AMEN !!✝️✝️✝️.❤️❤️❤️.
@@cs0126 Mac Davis wrote the song....
Your commentary is spot on. Were is the help given? We send billions overseas. The people here are in desperate situations. They should be helped first. 🙏
Even worse. Mac Davis wrote this about what he saw growing up in The 40’s.
@@darlenecheatham7775 Mac wrote after seeing some of it Elvis recorded it after living it , you can feel the emotion of it and I reckon it is the best humanitarian song of all time, if only we would listen to it and not turn our heads the other way😊🌏
Elvis was born and raised in the ghetto
true
Mississippi poor.
Yeah. His hunger burned, too.
He just had a skill where he could find his way out
He was so poor he didn’t even have a pair of shoes till he was 9 years old.
This song makes me sick, sad, and happy the Elvis had the guts to record this song even though he faced conflict for doing so. Your reaction to this song made it real to me. Keep on, keeping on..
This song was written by country artist/songwriter Mac Davis. Mac grew up in Lubbock Texas and as a child had a best buddy who was black and he could not figure out why his friend had to live in a different part of town than he. Dirt poor side of the tracks. He never forgot this as an adult and wanted to write a song about the poverty and violence that kept repeating itself called "viscous circle". He could not find a rhyme to circle and the word ghetto was just starting to become prominent. One day a friend of Mac's said I have to show you this cool new guitar lick that was shown to him by another player. Mac instantly heard "In The Ghetto" over the lick but did not say anything. He went home and finished the song by 2am that morning. Elvis was looking for new material at the time and Mac was able to get a demo of several songs to Elvis. He recorded 2, In the Ghetto was one of them. Some say this was one of Elvis's favorites because it was socially relevant and Elvis grew up so poor.. Hats off to Mac Davis for writing this song and to Elvis for having the guts to record it. Today's tears are because this song still is relevant when it should not be.
Loved your post extremely well stated I actually watched the video of Mac Davis you are referencing... although your comment was from a year ago I had to comment !
Songsjj, the last line of your comment: “Today’s tears are because this song still is relevant when it should not be.” Is absolutely priceless and very thought provoking! - A sad observation, but with much truth in every word! 😔
It says a lot about this man to record this song back then.
PoboyNCoke yep
AMEN !!✝️✝️✝️.❤️❤️❤️.
Another Amen from Alamea to A....
(To much A's) 😉
ELVIS came from the South' GHETTOLAND!!!
Thank you ! Hugs .
Your reaction.... it broke my heart..
Every time I listening this song I have tears in my heart. Hello from Montenegro.
👋🏽
Yes in the ghetto it's a very powerful song that brings me to tears , every time I hear it it's a vicious cycle, that's continuing on and on
this song is over 50 years old, and it is still true. So ahead of his
time, that is why he is the King! no record label wanted to release
this, Elvis was the only performer who got to push the limits.
The man knew what he was talking about and he would be disturbed to know how relevant this song still is.
IF YOU LISTEN TO THE ORIGINAL SONG, YOU WILL START CRYING. THAT SONG MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE CRY. I FEEL YOU
One of Elvis's backup singers was Whitney Houston's mother
You're absolutly right!
This song is 50 years old, but
sadly it is still relevant today.
He sang a lot of socialcritical songs like "If I Can Dream"
Or "Walk A Mile In My Shoes".
Thanks for your reaction!
@m Amina could you go to dum dum whatever his name is and give him a correction I'm calling Elvis the same thing as up one person I'm here not too long ago called him a pedophile which is better that way they don't know the definition of a pedophile this person on here called Dum Dum it's saying that he played with kids referring to how young Priscilla was when she came to Graceland which was 16 at 14 and we all know the rest of the story but I don't have a time of the patience of the willpower to tell the guy where to go but I think you would know how to do it and the right words AKA Elvis Junkie if that doesn't make a lot of sense to you what I just wrote text me and I'll try to a little plainer it just look for dumb dumb and then it looked like he had 8000 or something out there I don't know but it offends me for anyone to compare Elvis to a pedophile or to a child molester a young part the fact that he liked young women Priscilla we all know the arrangements while Priscilla was at Graceland the start with this dumb dumb down AKA Elvis Junkie
@@laurabexley9114 Priscilla has stated emphatically that Elvis would NOT touch her until she was of age
@@bamafan62 I BELIEVE THAT.
THERE PEOPLE ON UTUBE CALLING ELVIS A PEDOPHILE AND MESS ONLY YOUGS. I THINK THEY SHOULD LOOK UP THE MEANING OF PEDOPHILE. SHE WAS 16 WHEN SHE WRNT TO GRACELAND.21 WHEN THEY MARRIED. I HAVE NP PROBLEM WITH PRISCILLA AND ELVIS LOVE . I TAKE IP FOR HER ALL THE TIME.
A.K.A ELVIS JUNKIE
Saying young girls WHAT some dumb dumb dumb SAID ,NOT me
AMEN !!✝️✝️✝️.❤️❤️❤️.
@@laurabexley9114
Hy Laura, just read this message you send 4 weeks ago. I don't know if you meant me, because of the different name. You wrote amina, not alamea.
Could you clarify the problem yourself, or should i do something ?
I'm so sorry! I don't know for sure if i read the message back then. If so, i would have asked if you meant me.
Hope everything is ok!!!
Hugs to you 💗
Love watching reaction videos... Especially when it's my man ELVIS. Mahalo
I am so very thankful to you for keeping his memory alive and introducing Elvis to the generations that didn’t know him!
The first electric wheel chair in Memphis was given to a black woman by Elvis. He also one time gave a black woman he saw looking at a Caddilac in a car dealership the car she was looking at and 500 dollar check to buy clothes to match the car. Elvis was a GREAT freind to the black community and to people in genneral .
Elvis was raised in the ghetto more or less...he never forgot his roots
@@bamafan62 no more or less in that statement, he was raised in extremely poor conditions
Greg Ward yea I know, I’ve lived in the Memphis area since 1978, and I’ve seen the family home in Tupelo
AMEN !!✝️✝️✝️.❤️❤️❤️.
The dealership that refused to sell her a car was called Beeman's Pontiac/Cadillac in Nashville Tennessee.
My husband actually saw that happen! He worked across the street at Harpeth feed store.
He said it's the only time he ever saw an argument at that dealership that literally stopped traffic around it. Elvis was Furious.
Thank you so much for sharing Elvis,was born in the ghetto and dirt poor and ❤ everyone.god bless you and your family,👑❤💯 🙏 amen ☝👍🎸🎵🎶🎤⭐💎
I always liked this song. Ur right it's still going on today. Its so sad. Stay safe. God bless.
This was extremely socially conscious for it's time! It was released in the 60's when people did "Turn thier heads and look the other way"!
And unfortunately people still turn there heads the other way, well not all people and hopefully Elvis's message is getting out to more people through these reactions, I'm sure that was Elvis's intention when he recorded this song😊🌏
"In the Ghetto" (originally titled "The Vicious Circle") is a 1969 song recorded by Elvis Presley written by Mac Davis. It was a major comeback hit released in 1969 as a 45 rpm single with "Any Day Now" as the flip side. It is a narrative of generational poverty: A boy is born to a mother who already has more children than she can feed in the ghetto of Chicago. The boy grows up hungry, steals and fights, purchases a gun and steals a car, attempts to run, but is shot and killed. The song ends with another child being born in the ghetto, and implies that the newborn could meet the same fate, continuing the cycle of poverty and violence. The feeling of an inescapable circle is created by the structure of the song, with its simple, stark phrasing; by the repetition of the phrase "in the ghetto" as the close of every fourth line; and finally by the repetition of the first verse's "and his mama cries" just before the beginning and as the close of the last verse. It is played in the key of B flat.
@t
Mac Davis explains the genesis of this song which he wrote. WRZ 2020/03/21
th-cam.com/video/WGSnTfRJlCY/w-d-xo.html
Story Behind the Song: 'In the Ghetto'
143,517 views•Oct 3, 2016
If you "right click" to "paste as plain text, you wouldn't get that @t when you try and paste links here.
Also search youtube for an explanation of how to edit your own youtube comments
If that one touched you, you should absolutely do a video for "If I can dream". His tribute to MLK & RFK.
50 years and we still havent learned to be better...
Elvis was a beautiful person inside & out, & tried very hard, to bring awareness to issues of poverty & race relations, & received a lot of bad press by doing this, but it did not stop him one bit, he just wanted a better life for everyone 💕 Great reaction!!!
In an era today of political correctness this song is a true today as it was in 1969. This is. Discussion that should be held in every city in America right now. This song speaks volumes and should be played and replayed on every radio station until the issues are aligned for better success in the American neighborhoods needing to be addressed and moved in a direction for more prosperity and compassion. The youth of today need a lifeline more of a lifeline now more than ever.
Great reaction to a classic and meaningful song. Oh, and change that smoke detector battery!
I heard this for the first time when I was 10 in 1974. I still can't listen to it without getting misty.... And I grew up happy in a small village in the mountains of Norway, I didn't even really know what a getto was..but this song..made me understand without really knowing..if it make any sense...
I was 9 and grew up in Chicago. Not in the "ghetto" which is now known as the projects, and it affected me the same. Still can't listen to it without tearing up. Especially watching someone react to it for the first time.
AMEN !!✝️✝️✝️.❤️❤️❤️.
You just rule. I subscribed. God bless.
And the cycle is still going strong 60 years later. 😢 The saddest part is, we could end it if the wealth were distributed more fairly. But for so many, life is literally a dead end, poverty could be eradicated easily if greed was kept in check.
Time for America to stand up for children's rights, we can afford to eliminate child poverty, 60 years later and we have made no progress...shame on us...we need to stand up and vote for government that will address poverty
He was advised not to release....50 years on we all should be ashamed of ourselves for not changing things ...
Legend has it that smoke detector is beeping to this day.
He didn't have to do it but he did!
Yes, "his people" didn't want him to do this song and advised him against it. Thankfully he did it anyway. Same with "If I Can Dream".
Don't be sad he sang that song to make people sit up and listen you need some upbeat Elvis it will help cheer you up ☺
Plus he was a twin, but his brother Jesse Garon was stillbor. The man carried a load.
Sissy Houston was one of his backup singers, yup, Whitney's mom.
Elvis grew up in the ghettos of Memphis, TN. He probably saw this growing up.
"Evis" Presley, a true Southerner I hear. Hats of for a truly great and honest reaction video madam!
Hurry up and do another elvis reaction lol 😂 I need more tonight lol 😂😄
A very rare Elvis video..Is Baby I don't care..He is dancing n singin poolside, in his prime...The video is in black n white or color..Very short clip but epic*
Good reaction and the way you expanded on the themes in this emotional song.
😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
THE king of music 👑🕺🙏
If I can dream,is a tribute to MLK.
Hurry up and listen to some more music, so we can see that cute smile! I don't like to see you down sweetheart .😞
Thank you very much for sharing your sincere feelings with others who need it.
Waaaah!! You made me feel tearful! And Ive heard it a million times!!
Dig it* Shor....nuff...Dig it*..yes that song was 50 year's ago..As a nation...We've lost our LOGOS *..A request for Led Zeppelin live 1973 Stairway to Heaven * Sincerely. You have smooth vibe
Review Elvis , "If I Can Dream." This song was a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King shortly after his murder. The version wearing the white suit.
It happens every day its the cycle...
Having grown up in the Virginia ghetto it was different... But I love this tune.
The original title was vicious cycle
That's why they call him the king he touches your heart
How is there an unlike? Trolls! And to ad to the beautiful comments here, Elvis was a Veteran of the US Army.
Elvis grew up in the Lauderdale Courts housing projects in Memphis TN after his folks moved up from Mississippi, and his father did time, so he's not exactly unfamiliar with what he's singing about
At that time no one wanted to touch this song including the legend, Sammy Davis Jr.
Another good un...Day after Tomorrow...tom waits & Hell
Broke Luce.
(From fear to kindness is also a road.)😁
One of the things he became known for was a time he saw an older black Lady admiring the new Cadillacs at a dealership . He went in and bought her the one she wanted .
You can cry mama, it's ok
He sang this song in 1968
Was hard to hear your voice THE VIDEO WAS LOUD ENOUGH..YOU CAN TELL IT TUCHED YOUR HEART.
A.K.A ELVIS JUNKIE
... still nothing changed ...
Mac Davis wrote in the ghetto,
Lest we not forget, the 1000's of missing American children!
I was never much of an Elvis fan. Just not my style. Yes to jazz, metal, rap (real lyrical rap, not that mumbling shiz), and probably dozens of other genres, but I've never cared for pop, and in my mind, Elvis was pop. And I still feel that way about him (and pop in general). That said, THIS ONE SONG of his is in my top list of best songs ever made in any genre by any artist. Unfortunately, ain't $hit changed much since it was written. Would not surprise me in the slightest to find that some of the same politicians are still in office today, still using the same basic problems as a platform for continued re-election.
Reaction "What now my love" rehearsal Hawaii live 1973 please please please thanks 🤗✌️🙏
"if I Can Dream" was written for MLK after his assassination. If I had money and if I would be welcomed there I would love to contribue time to help the poor, but honestly Im scared.
Please react to Tobey Kai singing Commandeer. She's really amazing with great vocals. Thank you
His voice is just so amazing
And guys please watch this song covered by__Anivo and Kevin__
Its beautiful💞
The reason this song impacts is because the Ghetto deaths of those young men or women surviving on prostitution is painful to all witnesses. The truth is we all want a better brand of humanity as God's children, no matter skin tones or social status.
I think you need something happy and fun by Elvis. May I suggest : "U.S. Male."
50 years has passed and nothing has changed. Very sad commentary on America
Studio version
th-cam.com/video/FJ-r0bilzhU/w-d-xo.html
Duet with his daughter
th-cam.com/video/hUlYONgjaoU/w-d-xo.html
Ladies and gentleman.
Elvis is a product of white America.
Back then white America didn't like the fact that their white girls were going to the black night clubs.
So they found Elvis and made him the white prince that would get the white girls away from the black night clubs.
Elvis never wrote a song in his life.
All of the songs he sang were written by white people.
Even this one.
Now I am not saying he wasn't a good entertainer.
If you want to hear a real black boys struggle.
Then I highly suggest that you listen to
Stevie Wonder......
Living for the city.
The long version.
must be the lastest seen so many of these people ...reactions?
Watch the one with Lisa Marie Presley singing the ghetto with dad Elvis. In color with a video is much better.
Change the damned smoke alarm battery...or just take the old battery out for Christs sake....
😳🤣
In bringing a human being into this world you aren't doing him or her a favor. Actually you're forcing them to experience over the course of their lives what is a sheer magnitude of an existential trauma that includes pain, fear, sickness, and death (as well as a myriad of other evils that are found and experienced only in this world).
Birth control is there for a reason.