10 Elvis Presley Songs - #4

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"Love Me Tender", released in 1956, was from the movie of the same name. It was a musical adaptation of an 1861 song, "Aura Lee" (a Civil War ballad) which was public domain. Lyrics are credited to Vera Matson even though the actual lyricist was her husband, Ken Darby, and to Elvis himself. Elvis's deal demanded that 50% of the credit of their song goes to Presley if they wanted him to record it. Ken Darby said this about Elvis: "He adjusted the music and the lyrics to his own particular presentation. Elvis has the most terrific ear of anyone I have ever met. He does not read music, but he does not need to. All I had to do was play the song for him once, and he made it his own! He has perfect judgment of what is right for him. He exercised that judgment when he chose 'Love Me Tender' as his theme song." In the song, the singer is telling about his undying love for his significant other: "...For my darlin' I love you, And I always will." "Love Me Tender" reached #1 on 5 US charts and #3 on the Country and R&B charts. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons