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We Can Make the Morning

Rating:
4.3 / 5

Words & Music: Jay Ramsey

I just thought I heard a small voice crying
Looked again and saw that it was me
I feel like a little boy denying
That he fears the night 'cause he can't see

Then a larger thought said stop your crying
Don't be scared to search 'cause you may find
Fate holds out a candle for your footsteps
Time rolls back the shadows of your mind

It's a long, long lonely night
You can make the morning if you try
It's a long, long lonely night
Oh, we can make the morning if we try
Girl, we can make the morning you and I
Together, together, together

Loneliness is darkness' first companion
Spend the night alone and faith may bend
Share it all and see how fear starts fading
Chase away the shadows with a friend

Dawn's elusive light is just beginning
Now the day can push away the night
Dreams can make the sun feel much brighter
Hope creates a foothold for the light

It's a long, long lonely night
We can make the morning if we try
It's a long, long lonely night
We can make the morning if we try
Girl, we can make the morning you and I, Oh
Together

It's a long, long lonely night
We can make the morning if we try
It's a long, long lonely night
We can make the morning if we try
It's a long, long lonely night
We can make the morning if we try

Recordingdate: 1971/05/20, first released on: single (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of We Can Make the Morning:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(piano)
(organ)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(percussion)

Others*

(french horn)
(french horn)
(cello)
(cello)
(viola)
(viola)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)
(violin)

*Orchestra, overdubs

Availability

Find available albums with We Can Make the Morning.

Lex wrote on April 05, 2008
Wow, what a power! It makes this throwaway song worth listening.
mak1965 wrote on May 11, 2008
Probably my favorite of all his music! That is really a hard thing to say! BUT It just does something to me,, Like hen he hits the high not ein the Live version of My B oy! Man Elvis had that voice!!
JimmyCool wrote on September 04, 2008
Underrated song! Sounds so modern and fresh... and it gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it.
Rob Wanders wrote on November 10, 2009
wow, such a great song!
pasa-ryu wrote on November 10, 2009
It is an underrated song indeed,Elvis could sing anything and any style and this song proves this..pity there aint any unreleased studio outtakes or undubbed versions of this song released by RCA/FTD lable yet;this song deserved to be on the 2006 FTD album "I Sing All Kinds"(the 1971 nashville sessions).i cannot understand why they decided to ommitt an alternate version of 'we can make the morning' as was recorded in the 1971 RCA studio B Sessions?/maybe we will get on the RCA/FTD deluxe version of "Elvis now"??9as the song was 'originaly' released on this great album in 1972..track 6.)
derekd wrote on November 10, 2009
i'm a big fan of the early 60's but i have to say that this is truely a great recording. 5 stars from me.
Steve V wrote on November 10, 2009
Probably the most underrated & unknown 70's single. I don't think I ever heard this song on the radio. Didn't have a chance to be a hit and that's too bad. Great performance.
Jerome-the-third wrote on November 10, 2009
from what I understand there is not an alternate take of this song because take 1 was directly the master take..
Jerome-the-third wrote on November 10, 2009
fantastic song!..
Great Dane wrote on November 10, 2009
Great song!!In mine top 5 of Elvis favourites!
Taprik wrote on November 10, 2009
Simply amazing!
pasa-ryu wrote on November 10, 2009
if take 1 was the master take,then there must be an undubbed version without the additional overdubbs?-it would sound alot better without the overdubbs(the pure Elvis sound.)maybe on Elvis NOW RCA/FTD version we will finaly get to hear this version?.(time will tell)
Deano1 wrote on November 10, 2009
A very interesting, yet unusual song. Elvis' vocals are spotty in places, but simply unbelievable and unable to be duplicated in others. Originally released as the B-side of "Until It's Time For You To Go" in 1972, and it did get some radio play on adult contemporary stations (charting as flip side on the Adult Contemporary chart at #9). Overall it is one of the better songs on the LP "Elvis Now".
old shep wrote on November 10, 2009
A track from the oddly titled Elvis Now which should have been called Elvis Then, as some of the the songs were definately not new recordings. I could never make my mind up about this song, but i'm happy that RCA in the UK went for Until It's Time For You To Go as the A side.
pasa-ryu wrote on November 10, 2009
hey,talking about A-side single release's:isn't it funny and very strange that RCA failed to 'officially' release the Elvis fans classic song:"IT'S ONLY LOVE" until 1980?!!!!(why wait ten years after it's been recorded and 4 years after Elvis' death to officially release such an awsome ballad from Elvis?(i could never understand RCA'S decision in the 1970's NOT to release such a strong performance as 'It's Only Love'??-it still baffles me to this day.(surely if released in 1970-71 it would have had a positive impact in both the US&UK charts at the time?)the song wasn't released until August 1980 and was a Top five hit single in the UK and only reached number 51 in the US billoard charts in 1980.(NO.3 here!),..does anyone know the real reason why 'its only love' wasn't released in Elvis' life-time?.
dgirl wrote on November 10, 2009
Always liked it. Did he ever do it in conert? Would have been a natural.
burninglove92 wrote on December 22, 2009
Simply Amazing! Undoubtly one of the strongest vocals he ever did. listen and you can tell how much Elvis likes this song.
LonElvis wrote on February 21, 2010
I remember first hearing this on vinyl on a used copy of Elvis Now and just being blown away by the song. And I still love to hear it. It's probably in the top 5 of his best recordings. I especially love the passion he injects towards the end of the song...right as the song seems like it should be tapering down he just pumps all this energy into one more time and it's awesome. "It's a LONG, LONG lonely night." I love this song. This is one of those songs that makes you truly love Elvis.
Monster wrote on April 06, 2010
This is one of those Elvis songs that could so easily pass you by but it contains some phenomenal vocal work. It's one of a half dozen or so songs he recorded in the seventies that sound different to anything else he ever did (I'm thinking of songs like I'm leavin). The lyrics are very mature and contemporary and the power and passion in this one take wonder are breathtaking, especially for a song that seems to have been overlooked by most people. But that's one of the great things about Elvis' music. You think you've heard it all and then along comes a gem like this out of the blue to remind you that even as professional boredom and personal demons were beginning to take over he was more than capable of turning in a performance any top vocalist would kill to deliver. Five stars and a big smile. :)
Marty_TCE wrote on June 23, 2011
One of the stand out songs from Elvis Now, a strongly delivered song full of emotion. Love it!
Great Dane wrote on June 23, 2011
it's in mine top 3. What a vocal power he had in the 70's,5 stars all the way.
Great Dane wrote on July 02, 2012
I've just listened to it on vinyl and CD,but the vinyl is so fresh,it's so good. I give it more than 5 stars.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on July 03, 2012
One of my Favorites, It was the "B" side to the A sided Single "Until it's time for you to go", in the United States. Both songs failed to be huge hits, but they should have been ! Especially, "We can make the Morning".
Gorse wrote on March 15, 2013
Listening to it right now, and what a performance our boy gives. A song that gradually builds and builds with intensity and suits the big voice Elvis vocal perfectly. Was wasted as a 'B' side. - 5 stars.
sugartummy wrote on May 28, 2013
Elvis recorded this at the sixth day of a seven day session. It would't surprise me if he only did one take after such a long session that provided more than thirty songs. A well delivered pop song.
Cruiser621 wrote on September 16, 2013
One of those hidden gems included unfortunately on the "Elvis/Fool" 1970's album; a hodge podge of assorted gems and crap just to make a fast buck. So sad!
dismas wrote on February 14, 2014
Another hidden, or lost, or forgotten, or simply under-promoted power ballad that shoulda, coulda, woulda been a huge hit single if only the stars had been lined up properly. Considered (if only briefly) for use in the classic (?) Hollywood disaster hit, The Poseidon Adventure. Elvis might have made his way back to big-time filmmaking by virtue of his great vocals, and then, well, just think of the possibilities...
Cruiser621 wrote on April 24, 2014
Geez… Should have said "Elvis Now" back in Sept. 16th, 2013, not "Elvis/Fool" album…..
Lou A wrote on April 24, 2014
Probably my favorite track from the uneven and poorly concieved Elvis Now album - a record I do like. The only problem with this recording is the mix where Elvis ' s voice is often lost , especially at the end of the song . But's a good song with a great very committed performance by Elvis. I always felt that I'm Leavin and It's Only Love should have been on that album and Miricle Of The Rosary and Hey Jude not , and , but hey that's ancient history now !
ElvisSacramento wrote on April 25, 2014
I've always liked this excellent, underrated and overlooked song immensely and I've never skipped it. But, it's unfortunate that Elvis never sang it at any of his concerts. Five stars from me. I admire the vast majority of the songs from the "Elvis Now" album.
shawnrw wrote on April 09, 2016
A completely overlooked but powerfully sung ballad with a great drama to it. Really should get more attention than it doses.
atomic powered poste wrote on April 27, 2018
Elvis wasn't in his best voice in 71, and it's showing here. His voice sounds strained, he struggles on several high notes, not a good performance. Not a very good composition either. 2 stars for a forgettable number, correctly placed on one of his worst LPs ever.
TheMemphisFan wrote on April 22, 2020
Nothing more than album-filler material. This recording was a poor choice for a single in January 1972.
Cruiser621 wrote on April 23, 2020
I've said this before, but this song got "sand bagged" by being included on the "ELVIS NOW" album. What an absolute shame! This tune is better than what the ears hear.
JerryNodak wrote on April 23, 2020
A '70's song that I liked from the first time I heard it. Still like it these many years later. Very underrated. 4 stars.
Pinkie wrote on April 23, 2020
Potentially a good song ruined by an awful arrangement - too loud and too many background singers - and some quite awful )overly loud and out of tune) overdubs. Master is unknown as Tape 2 from the session was lost.
jaques marcello wrote on April 23, 2020
great song
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