In the Ghetto
Elvis Presley
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As the snow flies On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' A poor little baby child is born In the ghetto (in the ghetto) And his mama cries 'Cause if there's one thing that she don't need It's another hungry mouth to feed In the ghetto (in the ghetto) People, don't you understand The child needs a helping hand Or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day? Take a look at you and me Are we too blind to see Do we simply turn our heads, and look the other way? Well, the world turns And a hungry little boy with a runny nose Plays in the street as the cold wind blows In the ghetto (in the ghetto) And his hunger burns So he starts to roam the streets at night And he learns how to steal, and he learns how to fight In the ghetto (in the ghetto) Then one night in desperation A young man breaks away He buys a gun, steals a car Tries to run, but he don't get far And his mama cries As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man Face down on the street with a gun in his hand In the ghetto (in the ghetto) And as her young man dies On a cold and gray Chicago mornin' Another little baby child is born In the ghetto (in the ghetto) And his mama cries (in the ghetto) (In the ghetto) (Aah-aah)
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Written by: Mac Davis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
24 facts about this song
Song Origins“In the Ghetto” also known as "The Vicious Circle," is a song written by Mac Davis and first recorded by Elvis Presley in 1969.
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Song ThemeThe song exposes the vicious cycle of poverty and crime that befalls children from deprived neighborhoods or "ghettos." It's a social commentary and call to action, which was quite unusual material for Presley at the time.
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Chart Performance“In the Ghetto” became a hit on its release, reaching No. 3 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 2 in both UK and Canada.
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International HitsThis Elvis' song was also a succesful hit in several countries like Australia and Ireland, reaching the number one spot on the national charts.
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Legacy“In the Ghetto” is considered a classic today and is one of Elvis' most famous songs. It has been covered by numerous artists across various genres.
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ControversyDespite its success and its important social content, the song was subject to criticism and controversy. Some critics accused the song of being a political ploy and exploiting the plight of the poor.
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Artistic Leap“In the Ghetto” marked a key stylistic shift in Elvis Presley's career, as it saw him expanding from his rockabilly and rock and roll roots to a more message-oriented songs.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by a number of artists including Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Dolly Parton, and Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis' daughter. In fact, the Lisa Marie Presley version was used as a charity single for the Presley foundation.
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mac Davis PerspectiveMac Davis, the songwriter, admitted that Elvis was not the first choice for the song. He initially offered the track to Sammy Davis Jr., who turned it down.
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Recording Session“In the Ghetto” was recorded during Elvis' comeback period in American Sound Studio, Memphis. The recording process took over 20 takes to get the final version. The producer was Chips Moman and Felton Jarvis, a long associate of Elvis.
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Duets“In the Ghetto” was also performed as a virtual duet by Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie Presley, which featured in the album "Duet with the King" in 2007.
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Song Origin"In the Ghetto" was originally written and composed by Mac Davis, a renowned songwriter and actor.
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ReleaseThe song was recorded by Elvis Presley and released in 1969. It was part of his album, 'From Elvis in Memphis'.
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GenreThis song is classified in the southern soul genre, an unique blend of country music and R&B that was popular during the late 60s.
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Chart PerformanceThe song performed extraordinarily well on the charts, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Theme and Lyrics"In the Ghetto" is a poignant narrative about poverty, striving to bring attention to the vicious cycle of poverty and crime in the inner city.
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Cover VersionsMany artists have covered "In the Ghetto". Notably, it was covered by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds in 1984.
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LegacyElvis's performance of the song has been widely regarded as one of his best, and the song itself stands as a testament to his ability to step outside of his traditional rock n' roll genre.
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ImpactThe song has been credited with helping to revive Elvis's career, as it was his first top five hit in four years.
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Awards: In 2003, the song was ranked as the 92nd greatest song of all time on VH1's list of the '100 Greatest Songs of the Past 50 Years.'
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Unusual FactInterestingly, 'In the Ghetto' was also one of the first songs to address social issues in its lyrics, a bold move for Elvis Presley.
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Multiplatinum StatusThe song has sold over a million copies and has been awarded platinum certification.
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Social ImpactThe song's sobering depiction of urban poverty helped engender a broader conversation about social issues within the music industry.
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Recording: Interestingly, it was recorded at American Sound Studio, where Presley produced his most heralded work.
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