Elvis at the Wheel

Album: Sparks of Ancient Light (2008)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Al told his audience that the song is based on a weird time in the life of Elvis during the '60s rock revolution. The cloud incident that the song relates is true. It led Elvis to an intense religious experience and to his serious contemplation of becoming a Christian monk - an idea which perturbed his "entourage." Al, in fact, read of it in Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Robert - Long Beach, CA
  • The lyrics relay how Elvis once saw a vision of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in the clouds during a drive through Arizona:

    He's looking up
    The sky has something to reveal

    It is the face of Joseph Stalin
    That is formed by drifting clouds
  • A music video, directed by Bruce D. Northey, was filmed in Arizona in 2013. It closely follows the story presented in the lyrics, with Stewart visiting an independent bookstore and reading the story of Elvis's vision in Careless Love.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

P.F. Sloan

P.F. SloanSongwriter Interviews

P.F. was a teenager writing hits and playing on tracks for Jan & Dean when he wrote a #1 hit that got him blackballed.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Edwin McCain

Edwin McCainSongwriter Interviews

"I'll Be" was what Edwin called his "Hail Mary" song. He says it proves "intention of the songwriter is 180 degrees from potential interpretation by an audience."

When Rock Belonged To Michelob

When Rock Belonged To MichelobSong Writing

Michelob commercials generated hits for Eric Clapton, Genesis and Steve Winwood in the '80s, even as some of these rockers were fighting alcoholism.

The Real Nick Drake

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.