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This Is the Story

Rating:
3.9 / 5

Words & Music: David Martin Geoff Morrow Chris Arnold

I play the song, it was our own
Your photograph's by my side
I know I can't forget you
So I don't even try

The note you left is in my hand
I read again what you say
You're sorry but you love him
And you've both gone away

This is the story of a man
Whose world has fallen apart
And it's the story
That is breaking my heart

An open fire, our favorite chair
I get a book from the shelf
But the words I am reading
Could apply to myself

This is the story of a man
Whose world has fallen apart
And it's the story
That is breaking my heart
Yes, it's the story that is breaking my heart
Yes, it's the story that is breaking my heart
Yes, it's the story that is breaking my heart

Recordingdate: 1969/01/13, first released on: Back in Memphis (From Memphis to Vegas) (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of This Is the Story:

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

Others*

(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(french horn)
(french horn)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(trumpet)
(cello)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with This Is the Story.

old shep wrote on April 23, 2008
One of the many fine tracks on the Back In Memphis album, very soulful.
My boy, my boy wrote on July 12, 2008
I must say I wouldn't pay much attention to this song if it wasn't Elvis who sang it. Even if it's not a bad song I usually skip this track most of the time...
Ton Bruins wrote on July 12, 2008
I prefer the Live version from the 1969 show in Las Vegas. (FTD "All Shook Up")
Steve V wrote on July 12, 2008
I always liked this song. Elvis liked it enough to perform it live. Good soul & production on the record which gets lost on the live version which is a bit sloppy.
Great Dane wrote on February 21, 2011
I like this one and the album,altough it are the same sessions the album doesn't sound as fresh as the "From Elvis in Memphis". Maybe something with the mix?I've have the double album and the single album they both sound different. Still 4 stars for both of them.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on February 21, 2011
Love all the songs that came out of the memphis recording sessions. Elvis at his best ! More songs could have been released as singles from the American Studio sessions, and charted well.
dgirl wrote on February 22, 2011
Good song with a strong vocal. Fine studio arrangement. The live version is pretty sloppy. The band didnt know what to do with it and Elvis fools around. Not worthy.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 26, 2012
I've always liked this song immensely and it was a brilliant addition to the marvelous "Back In Memphis" album.
sugartummy wrote on May 22, 2013
A weak song, well produced and sung.
Gorse wrote on July 10, 2013
Exceedingly well sung with bags of soul on a very ordinary song. I believe many contributors here give these 69 session songs, extra latitude as they are from these Memphis sessions, but will criticise a better track purely because of the year it was recorded.
Cruiser621 wrote on July 10, 2013
Not one of my favorites nor one of his better songs from the Memphis Sessions back in 1969. The live version in plain words sucks big time.
cookingfat wrote on July 10, 2013
Really good song, poignant and well performed by Elvis.Vastly underrated and forgotten.
Deano1 wrote on July 10, 2013
A nice album cut, but nothing more. Elvis does give the song a soulful treatment, but it like the LP pales in comparison to the LP "From Elvis In Memphis".
NONE000000 wrote on June 30, 2014
I enjoy Elvis' joke in the live version: After singing "open fire" he makes a gunshot sound. I think the song is just a little boring. There's nothing really wrong with it, but it doesn't stand out, especially among the gems at these recording sessions. Still, it is a great bluesy song with some seriously masterful moments, especially in the chorus, when the song finally comes to life.
Jim Davidson wrote on December 15, 2015
It's mid tier relative to the other American Sound tracks. When compared to Elvis' 1965 to 1967 work, it's great.
atomic powered poste wrote on October 12, 2019
Nothing that blows me out of the water, that stucks in my mind forever after listening to it. The song is a bit mediocre, isn't it? But the performancea by band and elvis are great, so it works. 3,5 stars.
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