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Around the time of ‘clambake’
Movie number twenty-five
You and the lying dutchman
Are still in overdrive
You’re as strong as when you started
Mississippi in your soul
You can still be marlon brando
And the king of rock and roll
It isn’t just the records
No, you must have hollywood
The songs alone are not enough
That much is understood
You’ll soon be back in memphis
Maybe then you’ll know what to do
The storylines they’re giving you
Are just not ringing true
Oh, it’s a ways to go
Back to Tupelo
When you’re young and beautiful
Your dreams are all ideals
Later on it’s not the same
Lord, everything is real
Sixteen hundred miles of highway
Roll back to the truth
And a song to give your mother
In your first recording booth
Around the time of ‘clambake’
That old dream’s still rolling on
Sometimes there’ll be the feeling
Things are going wrong
The morning star is fading
Lord, the mississippi’s cold
You can still be marlon brando
And the king of rock and roll
But it’s a ways to go
Back to Tupelo
Movie number twenty-five
You and the lying dutchman
Are still in overdrive
You’re as strong as when you started
Mississippi in your soul
You can still be marlon brando
And the king of rock and roll
No, you must have hollywood
The songs alone are not enough
That much is understood
You’ll soon be back in memphis
Maybe then you’ll know what to do
The storylines they’re giving you
Are just not ringing true
Back to Tupelo
Your dreams are all ideals
Later on it’s not the same
Lord, everything is real
Sixteen hundred miles of highway
Roll back to the truth
And a song to give your mother
In your first recording booth
That old dream’s still rolling on
Sometimes there’ll be the feeling
Things are going wrong
The morning star is fading
Lord, the mississippi’s cold
You can still be marlon brando
And the king of rock and roll
Back to Tupelo
Song Info
Submitted by
redmax On Oct 04, 2004
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A song about Elvis, seemingly situated at his career highpoint when he was both a rockstar and movie icon, but harkening all the way back to when he recorded his first song as a birthday present for his mom.
Very bittersweet, as it highlights the way Elvis, always a simple country boy at heart, must've in some ways missed his humble beginnings when he became caught up in his own celebrity. I wouldn't be surprised if this song was also inspired by some Elvis biography that Knopfler happened to be reading at the time.
A song about Elvis, seemingly situated at his career highpoint when he was both a rockstar and movie icon, but harkening all the way back to when he recorded his first song as a birthday present for his mom.
Very bittersweet, as it highlights the way Elvis, always a simple country boy at heart, must've in some ways missed his humble beginnings when he became caught up in his own celebrity. I wouldn't be surprised if this song was also inspired by some Elvis biography that Knopfler happened to be reading at the time.
I love the reference to Colonel TomParker as the lying dutchman. Parker made up a yarn to explain his past, climbing he was born in America. It worked for a long time, until his family in Holland recognised him. He screwed Presley, taking a commission of 50% of Presley's earnings towards the end of his career.
I love the reference to Colonel TomParker as the lying dutchman. Parker made up a yarn to explain his past, climbing he was born in America. It worked for a long time, until his family in Holland recognised him. He screwed Presley, taking a commission of 50% of Presley's earnings towards the end of his career.
A song about Elvis, seemingly situated at his career highpoint when he was both a rockstar and movie icon, but harkening all the way back to when he recorded his first song as a birthday present for his mom.
Very bittersweet, as it highlights the way Elvis, always a simple country boy at heart, must've in some ways missed his humble beginnings when he became caught up in his own celebrity. I wouldn't be surprised if this song was also inspired by some Elvis biography that Knopfler happened to be reading at the time.
The "lying Dutchman" refers to Elvis' manager, "Colonel" Tom Parker, who was born in the Netherlands.