THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

442-Elvis Presley-In the Ghetto.

1969-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 2.21. The vicious circle.

In 1968 Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664 and 194) was looking for new material for his ninth studio Album, and 35th overall, which was to be called ‘From Elvis in Memphis,’ His chart hits were beginning to dry up, and he had to get hold of the right material. At first Elvis and his entourage were reluctant to record ‘In the Ghetto’ as up until that point he had steered clear of anything that could be perceived as politically controversial, but such was his faith in it being a sure fire hit, he went ahead and released it.

‘In the Ghetto’ was written by Mac Davis, who was born Morris Mac Davis on January 21st, 1942, in Lubbock, Texas, United States, he died on September 29th, 2020, following heart surgery at the age of 78. Mac Davis was a Country music singer, songwriter, and an actor, who appeared in films and on television. As well as ‘In the Ghetto’ he also provided Elvis Presley with the hit singles ‘Memories,’ (1969, Billboard Number 35) ‘Don’t Cry Daddy,’ (1969, Billboard Number 6 and UK Number 8) and the posthumous 2002 UK Number 1 ‘A Little Less Conversation.’ Davis was also a successful recording artist, releasing 19 studio Albums between 1970-1994, and 38 singles, between 1962-1986, of which four of those singles made the ‘Billboard Hot 100’ singles top 40 chart, and 30 charted on the ‘Billboard Country Music’ chart. His biggest solo success was with ‘Baby, Don’t Get Hooked on Me’ which made Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, while in the UK his only chart hit was with the 1980 novelty song ‘It’s Hard to Be Humble,’ which reached Number 27. Another notable song he recorded was ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life.’) (see also best songs 1024.) Away from music Mac Davis had a very successful career as an actor, appearing in 18 films between 1979-2017, including prominent roles in ‘The Sting II,’ (1983) and ‘The Dukes of Hazzard: Hazzard in Hollywood’ (2000.) He also made many television appearances, including hosting his own ‘The Mac Davis Show,’ over 35 episodes, between 1974-1976, which led to several further one off specials.

‘In the Ghetto’ was the only single released from ‘From Elvis in Memphis,’ the ninth studio Album by Elvis Presley from June 1969, the song which was originally titled ‘In the Ghetto (The Vicious Circle’) was written by Mac Davis, with the production being by Chips Moman (1937-2016.) In 1970 Mac Davis recorded his own version of the song, for his Album ‘Song Painter.’ Mac Davis has explained how he got the idea for ‘In the Ghetto,’ ‘It’s a simple matter of growing up with a little boy who’s father worked with my father. He lived in a part of town that was a dirt-street ghetto. I grew up in Lubbock, Texas, and it was a ghetto in every sense of the word, but we didn’t use that word back then. I was trying to come up with a song called ‘The Vicious Circle,’ how a child is born, he has no father, and the same thing happens. The word ‘Ghetto’ became popular in the late ’60’s to describe the poor parts of town. A friend of mine, Freddy Weller, who used to play guitar for Paul Revere And The Raiders, showed me a lick on the guitar one day. I went home and fiddled around with it, I wrote the song and called him up at four in the morning and sang it to him. He knew I’d written a hit with his lick, but that’s the way it goes.’ Mac Davis has also spoken about Elvis Presley recording his song, ‘It was a big brouhaha of him recording ‘In the Ghetto,’ I think he had to fight to get that out as a single. RCA was afraid of it, and Col. Parker (1909-1997) was afraid of it, but Elvis believed in it, and he wanted to be taken seriously. He wanted to do a song that said something. It was one of my prideful moments, because I didn’t know if anyone would ever cut that song, it was controversial at the time.’

‘In the Ghetto’ tells the story of a child born in to poverty, who can’t escape his surroundings. In order to survive he is forced to turn to a life of crime, which leads to his death, and as he is lying on the ground dying, another child is being born in the ghetto.

‘As her young man dies, on a cold and grey Chicago mornin’ another little baby child is born in the ghetto.’