In the Ghetto
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "In the Ghetto" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by Elvis Presley | ||
| Released | 1969 | |
| Writer(s) | Mac Davis | |
| Cover versions | ||
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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Susan Cadogan, Wing, Dolly Parton, The Cranberries, Eilert Pilarm, Christer Sjögren, Natalie Merchant, Taylor Hicks, Toni Braxton and Enrique Bunbury, DNX vs. The Voice |
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"In the Ghetto" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Mac Davis and made popular by rock and roll singer Elvis Presley. The song was released in 1969 as a 45 rpm single with "Any Day Now" as flip side. It is a narrative story of a young boy who grows up in the Chicago ghetto, steals and fights and who is eventually shot and killed.
"In the Ghetto" was recorded during Elvis' session in the American Sound Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. It was Elvis' first creative recording session since the '68 Comeback, and the songs recorded here probably owed some of their financial success to that. Other hits recorded at this session were Suspicious Minds, Kentucky Rain, and Don't Cry Daddy. There were initial fears that the song would damage Elvis' reputation for being politically unbiased, but Elvis loved the song and recorded it. After finally achieving a master take, Elvis claimed from then on, he would only do songs that he believed in.
[edit] Covers
The song has been covered by many artists, including Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds on their album From Her to Eternity, Susan Cadogan on her self titled album produced by Lee Perry. Wing on her album Wing Sings Elvis, Dolly Parton, The Cranberries and Christer Sjögren. Natalie Merchant performed the song during Lilith Fair concerts, a version of which appeared on a Lilith Fair compilation CD. South Park's Eric Cartman sang it in Episode 210: Chicken Pox, and again in Episode 612: Ladder To Heaven. In 2005, the song was covered by DNX vs. The Voice, that is a German duo. In 2006, the song was also covered by Taylor Hicks on American Idol. Spanish singer Enrique Bunbury recorded the song in English. Marilyn Manson also stated in an interview having recorded the song as a Christmas present for his mother. British comedy duo Hale and Pace once parodied the song, inserting words such as Meccano, Lego and Ludo in the place of "ghetto". Candi Staton (self-titled) 2003. Swedish artist Brolle Jr has also recorded it.
