IF I CAN DREAM (An Elvis Story)

I wasn’t an Elvis fan during my adolescent years, although the early to mid-60’s was his ‘hey day.’ In actuality, I liked the Beach Boys, and I often skate boarded about a mile to the local bowling alley; all the while listening to their music on a transistor radio. To be fair, I do recall one Elvis song from that era, and liked it pretty well. (“Falling in Love With You”).

However, in my so-called “golden years,” I have become a huge Elvis Presley fan, and subscribe to Sirius Radio, “The Elvis Channel;” and as soon as I step behind the wheel of my car, I turn it on.

Elvis produced some pretty bad music, and he was the first to admit it; (by in large, the music which accompanied his 31 movies). While he has been billed as the highest paid actor in show business during that time period, he was always looking for a serious, straight-up, dramatic, respectable part; though such roles continued to allude him. It was just all “get the girl” and fluff.

However, “The King of Rock n’ Roll” also produced some extraordinary music.

“Just Pretend,” “Don’t,” “The Impossible Dream,” “How Great Thou Art,” “An American Trilogy,” “I Did It My Way,” etc. etc.

One of the songs for which Elvis was best known was, “If I Can Dream.”

 There is a fabulous video montage on YouTube.com, performed before a live audience, in which Celine Dion and Elvis sing the song together, or at least the compilation gives one the perception that they are doing so. Obviously, the duet represents a marvelous video “slight of hand,” as Celine was born the year Elvis produced, “If I Can Dream.” I have simply never seen anything like it.

Pt. 2

As my wife and I made a little trip to the metropolis of Waldo, Florida today, we were listening to Elvis Radio, and a special segment came on commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Elvis’ production of, “If I Can Dream.” And the song’s writer, Earl Brown, shared some reflections regarding “the King’s” initial interest in the song, and his having been escorted to Presley’s dressing room one evening, and their having interacted about the tune.

“If I Can Dream” was written as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.; a man whom Elvis deeply respected. Having listened to the song numerous times, Presley finally told his producer, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

On June 23^rd, 1968, Elvis recorded, “If I Can Dream” in several passionate takes. It is said that his performance was so startling that those who listened felt as if they were having a religious experience. As the so-called King held his hand microphone, he suddenly fell to his knees. Perhaps he was mentally transported back to his youth, as he sang Gospel songs in his little church.

"The string players sat there with their mouths open. They had never seen anything like this." However, the most astonishing performance occurred when the producers sent everyone home for the day, and Elvis re-recorded the song… in the dark.

Steve Binder, the television special’s producer, sat motionless, almost afraid to move, as Elvis virtually lost himself in the lyrics. And again, he fell to his knees. But this time, this time, with the lights out, and the cameras turned off, Elvis lay on the floor in a fetal position. After three more takes, and without the benefit of light, the young man finally rose from his prostrate position, and walked into the control room.

Elvis sat in deep reflection, as he asked Binder to run the audio. After listening to the song fifteen times, he was finally satisfied, and felt like he’d done it justice. Presley was so affected by, “If I Can Dream,” that he said,

"I'll never sing another song I don't believe in” (and) “I'm never going to make another movie I don't believe in."

Pt. 3

Priscilla Presley said

"I can't think of a greater song to sing for the ending of the show, I mean it was brilliant, a match made in heaven. It was everything that he believed in. When he sang this song and you watch him singing this song you lived it and breathed it with him. It was an emotional song but he sang it with such, such passion, you could hear a pin drop and you look around the audience they were captivated by him."

Since I listened to the, “If I Can Dream” Special on The Elvis Channel today, and, subsequently, read about the experience which I have recounted here, I have continued to think about Presley’s black out performance; as he lay in a fetal position on the floor of the studio.

And I have arrived at the conclusion that Elvis was, indeed, experiencing something virtually unique in the history of vocal performances; akin to a spiritual experience.

Who can guess what thoughts flooded his mind as he lay on the cold floor of the studio?

Perhaps he was thinking about Dr. Martin Luther King, and the implications of his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Perhaps a decade and a half after the unsophisticated Mississippi boy auditioned for Sam Phillips in his non-descript Sun Records studio, for the briefest of moments, Elvis realized how much “out of his league” he’d been the whole time.

However, I believe the darkness which surrounded him, and the fetal position he assumed on the floor of the studio was all about surrounding the song with an environment which enhanced the mood which the song conveyed.

“If I Can Dream”

After all, we dream in the dark.

After all, we lay down in a prostrate posture prior to experiencing a dream.

And beyond these pre-suppositions, it occurs to me that the words of, “I Have a Dream” …represent a prayer, and that the darkness which surrounded Elvis that day, and the unusual posture he assumed spoke to the humbleness of his spirit, and the earnestness of his petition.

by William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "Elvis Stories." Copyright pending

IF I CAN DREAM

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, oh why

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 answers, answers gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there's a beckoning candle, yeah
And while I can think, while I can talk
While I can stand, while I can walk
While I can dream, oh please let my dream
Come true,...right now
Let it come true right now
Oh yeah

Earl Brown. Music video by Elvis Presley performing If I Can Dream (audio). (C) 2015 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment