Elvis and Lisa Marie Sing "In the Ghetto" and "Don't Cry Daddy"
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin’
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
With a velvet voice, Elvis brought genuine compassion to the words of this classic song. The story is as relevant now as it was in 1969. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, Lisa Marie filmed a duet with Elvis of the song “In the Ghetto”. The producer was David Foster. She filmed the video in the hurricane-ravaged city of New Orleans and the proceeds from the single will benefit a new Presley Place transitional housing campus in the city. Apparently this is one of Lisa Marie’s favourite songs by her Father.
The singer/songwriter Mac Davis wrote the song “In the Ghetto”. Mac Davis in an interview with Elvis World Japan discussed the song.
“’In the Ghetto’, I’d been trying to write for years. I grew up with a little boy who lived in the ghetto and in Lubbock, Texas. We didn’t have what is commonly known now as a ghetto, but there was problems worse. It was a dirt street ghetto. And it was a part of town I could never understand why my little buddy had to live over there and I lived where I lived. And his dad did construction work with my dad and then a little boy named Al Smith really kind of grew up together. And I’d always wanted to write a song about it and really the word ghetto didn’t even come into prominence until the late sixties, other than referring to Jewish ghettos in Poland and as such. And I had always wanted to write a song called ‘The Vicious Circle’. I always thought it was like, you know, the kids are born there, they grow up there, they die there, another kids born to replace them and just one day I started thinking about the ghetto as a title for the song. And the same day, a friend of mine named Freddy Weller showed me a lick on the guitar that he was playing and I thought it seemed like, and I took it home that night and I wrote this song. And that’s where it came from, basically.”
To read the full interview click here.
To purchase the song click itunes.
To learn more about Presley Place click here.
Lisa Marie’s tribute to Elvis with “Don’t Cry Daddy”
For Elvis Presley’s 20th anniversary, Lisa Marie similarly made a video with the song “Don’t Cry Daddy”. This song was also produced by David Foster, but not released. Mac Davis also wrote this song and in an interview he said, “’Don’t Cry Daddy’ is a pretty sad song. He got to the end of it and it was just real quiet and Elvis says, ‘I’m gonna cut that someday for my daddy’. And, by god, he did. He lived up to his word.”
To read more about Elvis and his health click here.
To visit the site of Elvis click here.
Lady Sharon,
Scribe of the Pain Table News
oh, lisa i love these songs that you recorded with your father. he has always been my favorite. i was born in 1969. and i grew up listening to your father. i hope u come to nashville, tn. so i could come and listen to u sing. i love your music to, another elvis. sincerly, sonia cervantes
Sonia,
When I hear Lisa singing with Elvis “Don’t Cry Daddy” it bringeth back the love that was in Elvis’s heart. He loved Lisa very much. It is sad he could not be with her as she grew up. They had a special relationship.
Thanketh you Sonia for sharing your passion.
Lady Sharon
Keep singing with Daddy. Great!!
Love Ya.
Lady Gail,
We thinketh there is something so special about a daughter singing with her Father. We do wish Elvis could have lived longer. But at least we can hear him singing with her in Spirit. We hope she does another song like this.
Thank you Lady Gail for loving encouraging Lisa.
Lady Sharon
This was beautiful. Elvis would be so proud of you. I hope you do more songs with him. I love to hear him sing.
Dear Lynda,
It would be wonderful to more of Elvis. His voice is timeless and touched with a certain grace. He loved his daughter very much so it is so touching to hear Elvis sing with his daughter.
I hope Lisa Marie reads your kind words.
Take good care Lynda,
Lady Sharon
lisa plz sing more with your daddy your fantastic your daddy would be real proud of you
Lisa, thanks for the performance i just saw. Your dad would be proud , I am. Been a fan ever since 68 and a long lost boyfriend since the day you were old enough to ride that golf cart. The harmonizing wasnt that good, but darling anything you do I like.
Chow,
Kevin B. Kelly -Parlin, NJ
Wilcume Lynne and Kevin,
The bond is still there between Elvis and his daughter, Lisa Marie.
We thanketh you Lynne and Kevin for riding by Camelot. Perhaps one day Kevin you shall meet Lisa Marie. I do hope that happens.
Fare thee Well,
Lady Sharon
Wilcume Anonymous,
What a beautiful encouragement. I hope Lisa Marie reads it one day.
Lady Sharon
I listened to the redition with Lisa and Elvis, it is certainly a tearful and moving song. I never knew that it was a song the loss of Gladys ( for Vernon and Elvis ). It sure fits.
Thanks Elvis, We’ll miss you
Lisa, I love you
Keep on keeping on girl.
Kevin B. Kelly
Parlin, New Jersey
Why cant i find the song in the ghetto with lisa marie & elvis on itunes? I would love to download it but i cant find it. Help me please, Shelley in calif.
Dear Kevin,
I hope Lisa Marie is able to read your words, as they show a great appreciation for Elvis and his daughter.
Elvis, when he sang it was like we could hear his soul. I think he would be very proud of Lisa Marie.
May music always be part of your life.
Lady Sharon
Scribe of Camelot
Dear Shelley,
I sent an email with the information that I was able to find. If you need more help, please let me know.
I pray thee peace,
Lady Sharon
When hearing this song,it just bought back the yr’s,with an extra special touch having lisa sing it with him. I was so un unawhere of just how sultry her voice is and it just added that somthing extra special. I am so glad that she has never tried in any way to try and do any covers of her fathers songs,bcause she knows that they were his songs that he sung so beautifully,and it is so pleasing to see that even she thinks that she doesn’t have the right to cover them. having said that I think that she chose these two particular songs to sing with him because they meant allot more to him then any of his other songs. and may I just say that god bless you Lisa you did them justice and I just know that your daady would be up there in heaven thinking and thanking you for doing such a lovely rendition of both of them. you are a credit to not only to your daddy but alos to yr-self,be proud of that. I wish you nothing but the best of everything that may come your way. god bless hunny.
Dear Tracey,
I do hope Tracey that one day Lisa is able to read your comment, as it is quite beautiful and insightful. She would appreciate your understanding. I believe, also, those songs held a deeper meaning to Elvis. Lisa could have chosen to sing many more but instead she did choose to do only the best to honor her Father. I wish Elvis could have been here for his daughter as they seemed to be very close.
I thank you Tracey for thy thoughts. Please ride by Camelot anytime as it is a pleasure to hear from thee. Take good care.
Lady Sharon
Scribe of The Knights of the Pain Table
Where could I purchase Elvis & Lisa Marie singing in The Ghetto? I would like to get this for my sister for her birthday
Hi Donna,
I believe the duet was released on iTunes as a charity single. The proceeds were to go to building the Presley Place Transitional Housing Campus in New Orleans. In honor of the 30th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death, Lisa Marie
recorded this single. I do not know of any other place that would carry the single. iTunes would be the best place to contact.
I believe the single “I Love You Because” ( with Lisa Marie Presley) is on iTunes at
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-love-you-because-lisa-marie/id570130112
if that is of any interest. This was another posthumous duet that was recorded.
If you would like to hear it, the link is
http://www.elvis.com.au/presley/video_lisa_marie_and_elvis_presley_video_duet_i_love_you_because.shtml
Good luck and sorry for the late reply for your sister’s birthday.
Lady Sharon