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A Thing Called Love
Words & Music:
Jerry ReedSix foot six stood on the ground, weighted 235 pounds
But I saw that giant of a man brought down to his knees by love
He was the kind of man who would gamble on love
Look you in the eye and never back up
But I saw him crying like a little whipped pup because of love
Can't see it with your eyes, hold it in your hands
Like the rules that govern our land
Strong enough to rule the heart of every man, this thing called love
It can lift you up, it can put you down
Take your world and turn it all around
Ever since time nothing's ever been found stronger than love
Men like me they worry and doubt
Trouble their minds day in and day out
Too busy a livin' to worry about a thing called love
And then I see a mother's tenderness
As she holds her young close to her breast
Then I say thank God this world will win with the thing called love Recorded:
1971/05/19, first released on
He Touched MeReactions
English isn't my first language but Elvis isn't singing some lines stated above.
I don't think he's singing about 'love' in the line “He was the kind of man who would gamble on love'. I don't hear him saying “Like the rules that govern our land”. And also the last line doesn't come close to what I hear.
In my opinion, Elvis tries to mimmick Johnny Cash here with his low bass voice. He could do this, but Cash could not give an Elvis impression, even if he wanted to. Cash is a good country performer, but Elvis was allround.
Interesting stereo effect on the vocals on the original record release of this song .
I like the flow of this song and Elvis' voice. Johnny Cash doesn't do it for me - not on this song or any other that both of them recorded. I also think that Cash is way overrated.
I just listend to the Cash version and it is ok, but I really like Elvis voice better and in this case also the arrengement and Elvis´phrasing.
Fantastic track which suited Elvis perfectly, and is one of my all time favourites. I really like the Johnny Cash version but Elvis still edges him out here. 5 stars all the way
Elvis blends in beautifully with the Imperials for an enjoyable, but lesser track from the LP "He Touched Me". The overall LP is a little uneven, but "He Touched Me", "Lead Me, Guide Me" and "Reach Out To Jesus" are among my favorite Elvis songs, sacred or secular.
Elvis would have hated me if I were producer on this! The first thing I would have done is send the Stamps, JD and any other background vocalist out of the room! I totally understand what Elvis was doing, going for, but big Gospel quartet singing (group singing) has never been what I turn to Elvis for. Still, I can appreciate the song and fun being had in it.
Recording this song the way Elvis did was probably fulfilling a wish he had since child, in the sense he always wanted to be just a member of a Gospel Quartet. He did it and I like the result. Very much.
Not my favourite gospel song, but Elvis does it really well. I never liked Johnny Cash's version as much, but then I think Johnny Cash is overrated anyway.
I've always liked this song and I've always enjoyed Elvis' rendition and arrangement of it.
Real nice song...enjoyable arrangement !...The piano part is amazing !
No sorry, not my kind of song...don't like it...
Hands down.. Elvis does this song, much better than Johnny Cash and Jerry Reed.. And I am a Fan of all three, of these great artists.
I love this song but you can hardly hear Elvis. He wanted to just be part of the group instead of leader this time.
Johnny Cash done this song better than Elvis
I have enjoyed this song since the first time I heard it. Hearing this and many other songs on He Tocuhed Me, I can´t understand why that album is so overlooked, compared with his other gospel albums.
beautiful gospel about things in life that should be appreciated more. Heal the world!..
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