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And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind
Words & Music:
Neil DiamondListen easy, you can hear God calling
Walking barefoot by the stream
Come on to me, Your hair's softly falling
On my face as in a dream
And the time will be our time
And the grass won't pay no mind
Saying nothing, lying where the sun is
Baking down upon our sides
My lips touch you, with their soft wet kisses
Your hands gentle in reply
And the time will be our time
And the grass won't pay no mind
Child, touch my soul with your cries
And the music will know what we've found
I, hear a hundred good-byes
But today I hear only one sound
The moment we're living is now
Now now now now now now now
Young bird flying, and a soft wind blowing
Cools the sweat inside my palms
Close my eyes, hear the flowers growing
As you lay sleeping in my arms
And the time will be our time
And the grass won't pay no mind
No the grass won't pay no mind Recorded:
1969/02/17, first released on
Back in Memphis (From Memphis to Vegas)Reactions
An ok song sung perfectly. Never cared too much for Neil Daimond.
This is such a beautiful, relaxing and soothing song and it's my favorite Neil Diamond song that Elvis recorded.
A song that suited his voice just perfectly. This despite fierce competition from other 1969 Memphis recordings has always been one of my favourites from those sessions. He had a smoothness and feeling in his voice that other pretenders could never match, and this song displays that gift to perfection.
This is an over looked slice of top drawer quality material from Elvis. He sounds quite different in this tune. Different for the better, very relaxed and interested. This song as sang but Elvis makes me think of a hot summer day by a stream in the country side with a beautiful girl in the long grass ........
The story is that Elvis wanted studio time and musicians from Neil Diamond and promised to record a song of him in return for the favor. This is a pretty recording but not at the same standard as the really great Memphis recordings. Neil Diamond and Elvis are not a natural match in my opinion. Nevertheless, pretty song and three stars from me.
The only reason great songs like this weren't released as singles was because Billboard Magazine was and is protecting the Beatles. "And the Grass Won't Pay No Mind" deserved to be a huge hit by "The King".
Love it, I like "sweet caroline" better, but this is also very good. I prefer al the masters on the "back in memphis" above the FTD versions, i miss something on those. 4 stars.
Love this song ! Elvis, at his best !! I like Neil's version, but I love Elvis version.
love the song and agree that the memphis sessions version's on ftd are brilliant.this is the one neil diamond song that elvis does better than him.great stuff five stars.
Didnt care for Elvis' version of Caroline, but this is great. What a delivery and great mature lyrics. Fruity? This is sublime, period. I think it had hit single potential also. Blows away most 70's ballads for several reasons. A more soulful and not over the top vocal , a simpler arrangement , and a Chips Moman production!
I am stunned by the comments I am reading about this one. I see several people who put down Elvis singing songs like "The Last Farewell" raving about this "fruity" tune. Elvis does sing it well, but he doesn't really sound like himself on the verses. Thank goodness, Elvis only covered a few of Neil's tunes, because I can't take this one. I guess several of you are upset that Elvis never recorded the awful "I Am, I Said" or the equally dopey "Song, Sung Blue". If only Elvis had lived until at least 1979 so he could have covered "Forever In Blue Jeans". And some of you have the never to say Elvis' 70's ballads were sappy and/or over the top. 2 1/2 stars for this song.
Love Elvis' version of this Neil Diamond song.
Absolutley quality recording, took me a little while to get into this song but when you do...wow! Wonderful in headphones in the dark.
One of the many great tracks from the 1969 session that could have been hit singles in their own right.
Very good song. There is a special feel & quality to these 1969 recordings that was lost in the 70's somehow. Probably could have been a hit single. Diamond's version is also very good but not quite as good.
Great Elvis song and one he clearly 'made is own'!!(i happen to think that it's actualy better than the Neil Diamond version)and it sounds even better on "memphis sessions RCA/FTD cd as an undubbed version,aswell as sounding raw and taken back on the import cd from 1996 "American Crown Jewles"(bilko).
Refreshing melody !...THX Elvis and Neil !
Very good, like most of the Memphis recordings. In a way, they all had hit potential with some exceptions. The Back in Memphis album, is great as well, and not so far behind From Elvis In Memphis
Very good song,I haven't heard Neil Diamonds version maily because I'm not an admirer of his.
Even if was issued as a single I boubt if it would have been a hit,it's not single material,imo.
Great recording, would have been a big big hit had it been released as a single. But then so would most of the Memphis recordings around this time.
A sublime song writen by Neil Diamond. 69 great
Available Alternate Versions