Back To Tupelo Lyrics

Lyric discussion by jonpalin 

Cover art for Back To Tupelo lyrics by Mark Knopfler

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.