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I'll Never Know

Rating:
4.3 / 5

Words & Music: Ben Weisman Sid Wayne Fred Karger

How many stars are in the sky, I'll never know
What fire lights a firefly, I'll never know

What happens to this heart of mine each time you hold my hand
Sometimes the things we love the most
We never understand
I never thought these eyes would see an angel's glow
What miracle brought you to me, I'll never know

What happens to this heart of mine each time you hold my hand
Sometimes the things we love the most
We never understand
I never thought these eyes would see an angel's glow
What miracle brought you to me, I'll never know
What miracle brought you to me, I'll never know

Recordingdate: 1970/06/05, first released on: Love Letters from Elvis (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of I'll Never Know:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(harmonica)
(marimba)

Others*

(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)
(clarinet)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with I'll Never Know.

Orion wrote on November 02, 2008
"What happens to this heart of mine each time you hold my hand. Sometimes the things we love the most - We never understand". Listening to the outtake on the recent FTD release of "Love Letters From Elvis" really made this short ballad a top 10 favorite of mine. From it's beautiful acoustic guitar work to the exquisite reading of the above lyrics by Elvis, it's in a class all by itself. Give it a listen and see if you don't agree.
commoneverybody wrote on February 21, 2009
A beautiful underrated ballad. You hardly find it on a love compilation and thats a pity.
Deke Rivers 6 wrote on February 21, 2009
This is lost on a poor LP/CD updated version of Love Letters + Only Believe + I'll never Know are the only song's on this poor record.
Natha wrote on February 21, 2009
Beautiful lyrics combined with the outstanding voice of Elvis means a feast for the music loving ear. I remember being enticed by this song when it was released first. And it still does.
old shep wrote on February 21, 2009
A diamond in the rough, the rough being the appalling Love Letters album and its equally naff cover.
Steve V wrote on February 21, 2009
Always one of my favorite songs on that mediocore LP. Underrated and should be known more.
Clambake67 wrote on February 21, 2009
Great balllad on a great album! im shocked that so many thik this album was mediocre with songs like, "Heart of rome", Life", "This is our Dance" and "If i were you"...etc>>>the whole album is great and Elvis' voice sounds perfect!
dgirl wrote on February 21, 2009
This is a very good ballad on, yes, a lackluster album. The songs mentioned, Heart of rome", Life", "This is our Dance" and "If i were you"...etc, are exactly why the LP is mediocore. Imagine these songs appeared just 2 years after the fabulous Memphis LP and you kind of understand why fans felt a bit letdown. I think we were all expecting that burst of renewed energy again. Sadly it was never to be again.
derekd wrote on February 21, 2009
This song has a special place in my collection. Reminds me of my daughter, Angela, the words and lyrics just blend in so well, and Elvis sings it from the heart. Could have been singing about Lisa. I never skip this track.
Marty_TCE wrote on February 21, 2009
This song is a gem, quite beautiful. The album is good, but off the back of some legendary albums in the late 60s / early 70s it is quite understated. All great performances but to me the album never really 'gelled', although strangely I listen to it quite often.
JerryNodak wrote on February 21, 2009
Song: 4 stars. Original album: 4 stars. Album cover: 4 stars. FTD 'classic': 5 stars.
Ruthie wrote on February 22, 2009
A lot of people just don't care for sentimental, gushy songs. For those who do, like myself, it is usually because that particular song relates to an event in one's life or reminds one of an event or person in their life. That's what is so great about music, particularly Elvis music. "It can lift you up, it can let you down, take you world & turn it all around". Or you can just sit back & enjoy it.
bluesboy wrote on June 18, 2011
One of the better songs from an album that consisted of leftovers from the sessions that produced the quality albums "Elvis Country" and "That's the way it is".
Deano1 wrote on June 18, 2011
Elvis rarely failed to deliver a quality performance on a ballad and this one is no exception. Nowhere near being one of the best of his career, but a good sentimental ballad. The "Love Letters" LP was an album of leftovers as RCA tried to cash in on everything Elvis recorded in June of '70. While not even close to the quality of TTWII and "Elvis Country", it is a nice LP. 3 1/2 stars for the song, 3 stars for the LP.
TCB1974 wrote on June 18, 2011
Very nice ballad and well delivered from one of his very best recording sessions, which produced the fantastic albums 'Elvis country' and 'Thats the way it is'. The album 'Love letters from Elvis' had a very nice album cover that I have always liked since I was a kid (and already fan), although I agree that album overall is not at par with the first two albums from this recording session.
ger wrote on June 18, 2011
good song from a fair album when compared to what was coming
ElvisSacramento wrote on December 11, 2012
This is such a marvelous and underrated song and it's easily one of my most favorite songs that Elvis first recorded in the 1970's.
Gorse wrote on December 11, 2012
A beautiful ballad sung with great feeling, warmth and charm. The arrangement adds to the effect and a number that I appreciate more and more outside the confines of the album - 4 stars from me, a ballad lover.
jb4elvis wrote on December 11, 2012
I may be in the minority here, but IMHO this is a terrific performance by Elvis. His voice is so convincing and really carries this song. Just a marevlous and underappreciated gem by Elvis.
Lou A wrote on December 12, 2012
Excellant song that easily could have been at home on Elvis That's The Way It Is soundtrack album back then.
sugartummy wrote on March 23, 2013
I'm a sucker for sentimental songs like this (sentimental me). Beautifully sung. The whole Love Letters album ain't so bad. Just not as good as better ones.
Cruiser621 wrote on February 29, 2016
This is one of his better ballads from the 1970's, hands down.... Definitely gets 5-Stars from me. Great song and he really puts his heart into it.... The expletives from the outtakes are not necessary, but then again, we really weren't there and FTD really could have done away with his remarks. Still a great song.
atomic powered poste wrote on August 04, 2018
A decent country tune. Nothing spectacular, but a respectable filler. Problem here: it's almost the best track on the lp ... it's a lousy lp, really lousy. 3 stars for the song.
bajo wrote on August 30, 2020
The best things first, then the rest for desert! I'm one of the few, I guess, who don't think Love Letters From Elvis is such a bad album! It's a leftover album, still miles ahead of Elvis ('73) and Elvis Now. I think the title of the album is somewhat misleading! Still, I'll Never Know is one of the highlights on the album, imo. Thinking about it now, Sylvia would have been a nice inclusion. Maybe instead of Heart Of Rome...??
Milky White Way wrote on August 30, 2020
Love this song, beautifully sung and beautifully arranged. Most people view Love Letters as a leftovers album, but I have always enjoyed it. 5 stars for this track and 4 stars for the album.
KINGE wrote on August 30, 2020
Always liked this song,mostly due to Elvis` amazing 1970 voice.
Lp fan only wrote on December 13, 2021
A beautiful song on one of the weaker albums of the 70s, but it is still a great album imo. 5 stars for the song and 4 stars for the album.
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