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It Keeps Right on A-hurtin'

Rating:
4.3 / 5

Words & Music: Johnny Tillotson

I cry myself to sleep each night
Wishing I could hold you tight
Life seems so empty since you went away
And the pillow where you lay your head
Now holds my empty dreams instead
And it keeps right on a-hurtin'
Since you're gone

It keeps right on a'hurtin every minute of the day
Every hour you're away I feel so lonely
And I can't help it, I don't think I can go on
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone

They say a man ain't supposed to cry
But when I see you passing by
My heart breaks down and cries a million tears
The pillow where you lay your head
Now holds my empty dreams instead
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone

It keeps right on a'hurtin every minute of the day
Every hour you're away I feel so lonely
And I can't help it, I don't think I can go on
And it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone
Yes, it keeps right on a-hurtin' since you're gone

Recordingdate: 1969/02/20, first released on: From Elvis in Memphis (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of It Keeps Right on A-hurtin':

(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)

Others*

(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with It Keeps Right on A-hurtin'.

dgirl wrote on November 24, 2009
This was a hit for Johnny Tillotson in the early 60's and Elvis does a great job with it. Still I think its the weakest song on the Memphis LP and seems out of place with the other great material.
old shep wrote on January 24, 2010
I saw Johnny Tillotson in concert a few years ago and he remarked on how pleased he was with Elvis' cover of the song, not forgetting the royalties he received. Dgirl's comment that the song seemed out of place on the Memphis album is a good point as many of the tracks were R&B and soul influenced. Non the less it's appearance on the From Elvis In Memphis seemed to have worked as the album and this song are usually held in high regard.
sitdown revamped wrote on January 24, 2010
I always liked the song. Gives a fine balance to the tougher ones. As I do not have exact information: Was this one of the recordings Elvis did without a lot of involvement by Chips Moam? As there where other songs he did, which were not full focus on the album back then. On the other hand, Chip Moam encouraged him fervently to record "Suspicious Minds" and "In The Ghetto". Anyone?
JLpResLey wrote on January 24, 2010
good song and a great performance by Elvis. Yes, perhaps not the most memorable performance from that fantastic album but it´s still a decent album cut
shoesuedeblues wrote on January 24, 2010
A good song well sung from the immortal From Elvis in Memphis album,
Steve V wrote on January 24, 2010
Good song, well sung, but sounded a bit dated for such a great LP. This would have fit perfectly along side If Im A Fool For Loving You on another LP. But still very good after all the movie songs we had to endure beforehand.
Deano1 wrote on January 24, 2010
A very well sung rendition of the country standard from the fabled Memphis Sessions of 1969. Included on one of Elvis' very best LP's "From Elvis In Memphis" and while not one of the great tracks on this album, it is still a very strong cut. This LP, like "Elvis Is Back", nine years earlier really showed that Elvis could do it all and this is one of the four heavily flavored country tracks on this album ("I'll Hold You In My Heart", "I'm Movin' On" and "Gentle On My Mind").
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 26, 2012
This is such a spectacular song and Elvis' rendition of it was magnificent. I rate every song, arrangement and performance from the "From Elvis In Memphis" album 5 Stars.
Gorse wrote on October 26, 2012
A pleasant country song, well sung but not the cream of the crop from these sessions. The well known version by Johnny Tillotson in the early 60's was appealing and Elvis also does it due justice
kink56 wrote on October 26, 2012
Great song, great performance. I think From Elvis In Memphis is an album without a single flaw. It is followed by a close second in Elvis is Back which has one weak title "Soldier Boy".
EJF wrote on October 26, 2012
While I have no intention of diminishing this fine performance, much as most of the songs recorded at American Studios were and, for that matter, the whole 'From Elvis In Memhis" album, which in my opinion was one of his very best, I can't help but wonder and speculate what a stupendous album it would have been if this track, perhaps together with "I'm Movin' On" (actually a song I am quite fond of) were substituted with Suspicious Minds, Youl'll Think of Me, Do You Know Who I Am and Stranger In My Own Home Town. A 14 tracker cracker of an album indeed. But of course RCA and The Colonel were never ones to bother about quality, focusing instead on how to milk every cent possible from the fans and record buying public.
john804 wrote on October 27, 2012
Great performance!
Cruiser621 wrote on December 13, 2017
I give this song an easy 5-star rating. Great song no matter who sings it to be honest and Elvis' version is a keeper.
DerekH wrote on September 09, 2022
A real gem from Elvis at his second peek. 5 star
Milky White Way wrote on September 09, 2022
This is a great song and for me it fits perfectly on the Elvis in Memphis album. If only Suspicious Minds and Kentucky Rain were also included! This song is masterfully sung and delicately produced and an easy 5 stars
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