On a hot August night in Memphis
At the tinder age of forty two
Behind the gates of Graceland
America lost its tune
Gather round the throne room
The king is sadly dead
On the cold linoleum floor
Is where he last laid his weary head
Fought so many battles
In the star filled lonely life he lived
If you're keeping score this is one war
That he lost the battle in
His scepter it was golden
His voice it was the same
He just lost his soul is all
Somewhere along the way
With papers read the words they bled
Out on the written page
Tears that poured as the world all mourned
And still do to this day
So bow your heads the king is dead
Elvis has left the building after all
Although long gone there is still the song
And he still is the king of rock and roll
Dec 18, 2016
Dec 18, 2016 at 7:36 AM UTC
On a hot August night in Memphis
At the tinder age of forty two
Behind the gates of Graceland
America lost its tune
Gather round the throne room
The king is sadly dead
On the cold linoleum floor
Is where he last laid his weary head
Fought so many battles
In the star filled lonely life he lived
If you're keeping score this is one war
That he lost the battle in
His scepter it was golden
His voice it was the same
He just lost his soul is all
Somewhere along the way
With papers read the words they bled
Out on the written page
Tears that poured as the world all mourned
And still do to this day
So bow your heads the king is dead
Elvis has left the building after all
Although long gone there is still the song
And he still is the king of rock and roll
Thinking the other day of the exact place I was standing when I heard the news of Elvis's passing August 16, 1977 and this came to mind. Not the hugest Elvis fan in the world but boy could he sing!
Request permission to use this poem