Elvis grew up around racism, bigotry, and hatred towards poor people. He himself knew what it was like to be put down because he didn't fitt in. He knew what Dr. King was all about. He knew that the messages and speeches had more to them than just beautifully spoken words, but that they came from an even more beautiful heart.
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960's was a movement to insure the freedom and respect of all men and women no matter the color of their skin. Dr. King spoke of not judging a man on his skin color, but by the content of his character.
Elvis strongly believed in the Civil Rights Movement and did for it what he could as a very recognizable celebrity. He couldn't walk in rallies with blacks, even though he wanted too. he couldn't speak about his feelings towards the movement, even though he tried to.
The death of Dr. King hit Elvis hard. He wanted to address the black community by going on television to tell how sorry he felt and how it affected him as a man. But his manger Colonel Tom Parker demanded he stay away and quiet in fear it could only do more harm than good for Elvis. He decided to do what he did best and that was to sing about it. Only thing was, Elvis had never before spoke about his political or racial beliefs on record. This time he would speak his mind with a new song written just for him by an African American songwriter and choreographer, W. Earl Brown for Elvis' 1968 NBC Comeback Special. The song was called If I Can Dream.
The lyrics weren't about teddy bears or hound dogs, but more about peace and hope for a better world. A dream for all to share together. That was the focus of the song. Colonel Parker was against the idea of Elvis singing his feelings towards society on record, and especially on his new television special. He wanted Elvis to close with a Christmas song instead. But Elvis didn't back down and closed out his special with the message song. Sung in a white church looking suit, Elvis poured his heart into this 3 minute and 10 second performance of a song that seemed not fit for a white guy from Tennessee but more for someone like Marvin Gaye or James Brown. But Elvis pulled it off and won over the critics. The song quickly became an instant hit and his first major hit in nearly 5 years. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top 100 charts and had a 13 week stay.
Some Elvis fans believe the song is his most powerful performance
he ever gave. While others take it as just being another Presley record.
But to Elvis, it was more than that. It had a message, the way Dr King's speeches had messages. The message in the song was asking for peace and not war. Asking for brotherhood and love and not hatred. And asking for a dream to come true, as Dr King's did.
Lyrics to Elvis' 1968 message song.
IF I CAN DREAM
(words & music by W. Earl Brown)
There must be lights burning brighter somewhere
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can't my dream come true
There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away
All the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won't that sun appear
We're lost in a cloud
With too much rain
We're trapped in a world
That's troubled with pain
But as long as a man
Has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly
Deep in my heart there's a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, please let my dream
Come true, right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah