Patti Scialfa's album version
Warm black asphalt
South of nowhere
I'm going there under a dirty cotton sky
When the rain comes round
I roll my window down
I lift my face to heaven
And wash these tears from my eyes
I'm just looking for some inspiration
I'm looking for something to rock my soul
I'm looking for a brand new destination
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis
I remember
All those Septembers
The pledges of allegiance
The prayers of trust
I slept on those beds of hope and promise
Woke up choking on cheap paint and carnival dust
So where are you now
With all those illusions
Fallen dreams and charity
If faith restores you
And truth delivers
Then don't tell me that I'm standing
When I'm on my knees
I'm just looking for some inspiration
Looking for something to rock my soul
I'm looking for a brand new destination
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road (Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis
You've got to give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
There's mud in the water
There's gravel in the dust
Work a little harder
Sing a little stronger
Stand up and deliver
If you want my trust (my trust, my trust, my trust)
West of Babylon
East of Eden
I'm breathing in these winds of change
I'm gonna rise up from these ashes
Gonna rise up and find the truth again
I'm just looking for some reparations
Looking for love to soothe my soul
I'm at the crossroads of my destination and
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road (Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
I'm looking for Elvis
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road (Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis (looking for Elvis)
I'm looking for Elvis down a Memphis road
Gotta give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
Mud in the water
Gravel in the dust
Gotta work a little harder
Sing a little stronger
Stand up and deliver
If you want my trust
Give yourself over now
Roll like a river stone
Mud in the water
Gravel in the dust
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Hey!)
(Aaah)
LOOKING FOR ELVIS is a song written by Patti Scialfa and released on her 2007 album Play It As It Lays. The above lyrics are for Patti Scialfa's album version of LOOKING FOR ELVIS as released in 2007.
Bruce Springsteen contributed to the studio recording of LOOKING FOR ELVIS, playing acoustic guitar and harmonica. At the end of the song he also sings a shout out (the part above in bold) through a bullet mic — this is not mentioned on the album credits.
Patti Scialfa's notes about the song:
This was one of the first songs I had for the album and to me it creatively telegraphed what this record would be about, so that's why I ended up putting it first. Elvis when he was young was — and is — for me a powerful symbol of American hopefulness and that idea you can rebirth yourself. The person in the song, that's what she's looking for here. The song isn't really about Elvis at all, it is the idea that you and your country could reinvent itself and somehow get back to it's original promise.
Bruce Springsteen makes a cameo in the official music video for LOOKING FOR ELVIS.
Play It As It Lays is a studio album by Patti Scialfa released on 04 Sep 2007 on Columbia Records. Produced by Steve Jordan, Patti Scialfa, Ron Aniello, this was Scialfa's third studio album. It features Bruce Springsteen on five tracks: LOOKING FOR ELVIS, TOWN CALLED HEARTBREAK, PLAY AROUND, RAINY DAY MAN, and PLAY IT AS IT LAYS. Springsteen is also credited for some photography on the album's artwork.
Patti Scialfa's album version of LOOKING FOR ELVIS was also issued on a promo-only single.
Other versions of LOOKING FOR ELVIS were also officially released.
LOOKING FOR ELVIS was performed off-tour in August 2007 at Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ, with Patti Scialfa. This live August 2007 version of LOOKING FOR ELVIS was released on the various artists album Elvis Viva Las Vegas Original Soundtrack in 2008.
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake) for the help.
List of available versions of LOOKING FOR ELVIS on this website:
LOOKING FOR ELVIS [Patti Scialfa's album version]
