Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

This was the King’s final song.

There are a lot of people with different opinions about Elvis Presley’s last song.  Some point to “Can’t Help Falling In Love”, which was the last song in what wound up being his last concert (Indianapolis on June 26, 1977).

Others will suggest “He’ll Have To Go”, as that was the last song he recorded.

But witnesses say that, on the afternoon of August 16, 1977, Elvis say alone at his piano and sang “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain”.

It is amazing the number of lives that Elvis touched, and continues to touch thirty-eight years after his death.  Huge crowds are gathered at Graceland this weekend for the annual vigil, and judging from the photos, many of the people there weren’t even born in 1977!

That’s a pretty stunning legacy.

So many like to turn Elvis into some kind of punchline.  Elvis impersonators show up as comic relief in movies.  Elvis himself is frequently tied in to bad-for-you food.  And frequently when the topic of Life After Death comes up, or any kind of ghost/paranormal show, Elvis is mentioned.

But there’s obviously so much more to him to leave behind this kind of devoted, out-pouring of emotion.  This kind of love.

Elvis Presley certainly doesn’t need me to defend him, and that isn’t what this blog is about.

It’s about love.

“Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain” was written by Fred Rose and recorded by Roy Acuff in 1945.  Hank Williams recorded a version in 1951.  And many more followed, including Slim Whitman, Gene Vincent and Conway Twitty.

It was also the first number one song for Willie Nelson in 1975.

It didn’t stop there.  Roger Whittaker and Charley Pride both recorded versions in the 1980’s.  Glenn Yarborough recorded it in 1997.  And a version recorded by Eva Cassidy was released in 2008.

Just two years ago, UB 40 recorded a reggae version.

Every decade since it was written seventy years ago, someone has recorded this song!

It’s about heartbreak and loss, but that’s not all.  It’s also about hope.  And it’s about a love that never dies.

Love never dies.

That’s pretty powerful.  And it’s so very true.

I’ve had so many gifted people on Psychic Tapestry, week after week.  And the message is always the same, and always clear.  We all go on.  And everyone you’ve ever known, ever cared about, ever loved – they are all just a thought away.

And as at least some of us think about the King this week, here’s the recorded version of the last song he ever sang.

And if you only take one thing away from this blog, I hope it’s this:

Heartbreak doesn’t last forever, and love never dies.