Dire Straits – Calling Elvis

"Calling Elvis" as written by and Mark Knopfler....
Calling Elvis, is anybody home
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone
Did he leave the building
Or can he come to the phone
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone

Well tell him I was calling just to wish him well
Let me leave my number, heartbreak hotel
Oh love me tender, baby don't be cruel
Return to sender, treat me like a fool

Calling Elvis, is anybody home
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone
Did he leave the building
Or can he come to the phone
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone

Why don't you go get him, I'm his biggest fan
You gotta tell him, he's still the man
Long distance baby, so far from home
Don't you think maybe you could put him on

Well tell him I was calling just to wish him well
Let me leave my number, heartbreak hotel
Oh love me tender, baby don't be cruel
Return to sender, treat me like a fool

Calling Elvis, is anybody home
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone
Did he leave the building
Or can he come to the phone
Calling Elvis, I'm here all alone


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

"Calling Elvis" as written by Mark Knopfler

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Calling Elvis song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +3
    General Commentit's obviously paying respects to the king...but it was inspired when mark knopfler's brother in law told him he had tried over and over to get through to him but the phone was busy and used the quip "it was like trying to call elvis"...so he really wrote it about not being able to get through to someone...either way, it's an enjoyable song...one of the high points on "on every street", not their best album
    ZinbobDanon March 17, 2003   Link
  • +2
    General CommentIt's a tribute to Elvis Presley, titles of the latter's songs are mentioned throughout the song.
    It's a well played song especially hearing it in live (on the night)
    kamelon January 06, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General CommentOn Every Street is hardly the album that can be described as their descent into oblivion. It is by exception an album with a lot of new songs (much more than any of the other albums, apart from their first one) and I am much inclined to describe it as a highlight, announcing all the wonderful things we could still expect, but which never came ...
    tompoes1951on March 27, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General CommentA really great song and very cleverly written. Obviously a tribute to Elvis after he passed away. I love how there's a lot of playing on words where Elvis's song titles are used. For example:

    "let me leave my number - heartbreak hotel
    oh love me tender - baby dob't be cruel
    return to sender - treat me like a fool"

    Only a great God like Mark Knopfler could pull this off. I've always seen Mark as great as Elvis and his songs are very powerful too. I just wish that Mark was more well known because he such a brilliant singer but he's just not regonized enough by todays society :(
    Pippyspoton July 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI agree with the comments above. This is one of the few worthwhile songs on the crappy "On Every Street" album, their descent into oblivion. At their last concert, promoting "On Every Street" Knopfler was just going through the motions.
    chrisb1on March 19, 2010   Link
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