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Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)

Rating:
3.4 / 5

Words & Music: Ben Weisman Fred Wise Kay Twomey

Can't you see
I love you
Please don't break my heart in two
That's not hard to do
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
And if you say goodbye
Then I know that I would cry
Maybe I would die
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart
There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Treat me nice
Treat me good
Treat me like you really should
'Cause I'm not made of wood
And I don't have a wooden heart

Muss i denn, muss i denn
Zum Stadtele hinaus
Stadtele hinaus
Und du, mein schatz, bleibst hier?

There's no strings upon this love of mine
It was always you from the start
Sei mir gut
Sei mir gut
Sei mir wie du wirklich sollst
Wie du wirklich sollst
'Cause I don't have a wooden heart

Recordingdate: 1960/04/28, first released on: G.I. Blues (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn):

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(piano)
(accordion)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(tambourine)

Availability

Find available albums with Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn).

vegaselvisfan wrote on November 02, 2008
being as i am of german descent, i love this song. and elvis sings it perfectly. it certainly shows his talent of versatility. i wonder how much german he learned while stationed in the army? :) with research on the internet, i discovered this traditional song actually has some different lyrics and 3 verses. the original version was recorded by joe dowell in 1961 and that is what elvis copied. this went to #1 in england, which surprised RCA. so, they released it on the back side of a christmas single a few years later. this song was on one of my first 45s, a gold standard release. so this is also sentimental to me. i was thrilled to hear elvis sing in the language of my family.
Deano1 wrote on March 09, 2010
Proof that once again in 1960-61, that Elvis put 100% into every song no matter if it was a classic rocker ("Little Sister"), a beautiful ballad ("There's Always Me") or a song sung for children at a puppet show (this one). It should be noted that Elvis had the original version of "Wooden Heart" (Recorded Apr 60, released Oct 60 on the "G.I. Blues" soundtrack LP) in 1960 and Joe Dowell copied Elvis' version note for note for his single release in 1961. 3 1/2 stars based totally on Elvis' performance.
Steve V wrote on March 14, 2010
Not for me. Never liked it, not even in 1960.
derekd wrote on March 27, 2010
In 1960 this WAS pop music, gone were the heavy rock days of the 50's. Soft rock & pop was the in thing and no did it better than Elvis. Listen to Can't help falling in Love, Good Luck Charm, Shes not You, Wild in the Country, His Latest Flame, etc.
Jesse Garon Presley wrote on May 03, 2011
A Great song, a definite proof that Elvis could even handle the german language and a showcase for his neverending talent, i don't care that some fans don't like this song nor do i understand why they trash this song into the ground,it was a hit for Elvis,also in Holland,those facts speak for themselves,can't argue with that... 4 stars.
dgirl wrote on May 03, 2011
Dont care for it. Its not that it I dont like his singing, I do. But the song? No thanks. By the way, Elvis singing in German is like The Beatles singing in German. Whats the big deal?
GEORGE (GK) wrote on May 03, 2011
Elvis sings it great, and its a nice song. And it fits very well in the movie. (A great scene with the puppets) But I feel the song should have stayed an Album track and not released as a single. I remember when the CD, "Elvis-30 Number one hits" was released, alot of people loved the CD, except for the addition of the song "Wooden Heart". I too thought "Little Sister" or another early 60s hit should have replaced "Wooden Heart" on the "30 Number ones CD".
Rob Wanders wrote on May 03, 2011
for me probably the worst song from Elvis from the early sixties.
old shep wrote on May 03, 2011
I like the song and still pay it from time to time. A big hit in the UK as was the soundtrack and film and rightly so.
Marty_TCE wrote on May 03, 2011
An absolute classic - 5 stars all day long from me.
Ton Bruins wrote on July 17, 2011
It's a horrible song. I hate it when this damn song is often voted as one of his best songs. Terrible !
TCB1974 wrote on July 17, 2011
This is a very charming song that fitted well within the movie. It was for obvious reasons a major hit in Germany and some other European countries, such as the Netherlands. Elvis delivers it well but the song is certainly not one of his best early 60s recordings. Three stars from me.
Lpool kid wrote on July 17, 2011
always loved this song since i was a kid 50 odd years ago,it was massive here in the uk.listen to it for what it is,it's not art,it doesn't pretend to be the greatest song he ever recorded,but it's perfect for the movie.five stars from me.
Steve V wrote on July 17, 2011
As soon as I hear that accordian, I hit the skip button.
Monster wrote on July 17, 2011
I liked this a lot when I was a kid but I tend to avoid it now as my adult ears are less sympathetic to this kind of cutesy pop. Doesn't stop me singing it to my two year old when it's bedtime - even though he'd rather I hummed the theme tune to Postman Pat. It's my dime kid! lol
JerryNodak wrote on July 17, 2011
I neither love it nor hate it. Sometimes I listen. Somtimes I hit the skip button. Depends on my mood. 3 stars.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 16, 2012
I've always admired this song immensely and it was tremendous hearing Elvis singing in german language. Elvis' rendition of it is excellent. The only song from the "G.I. Blues" soundtrack that Elvis should have never recorded is "Big Boots". Joe Dowell had a #1 hit with "Wooden Heart" one year after Elvis had recorded it.
Gorse wrote on October 16, 2012
I like everything about the song, the vocal delivery, the tune, the accordion and the dash of German. Great song from a fantastic album. 5 stars all the way
alanfalk wrote on October 16, 2012
A song that was pretty popular here in Denmark back in 61 .I really like it and often play it when we have children at visit, the scene in the movie is great also, 4 stars.
ger wrote on October 16, 2012
one of Elvis's best 5 stars
GEORGE (GK) wrote on October 16, 2012
I know a lot of fans dislike this song, because Elvis is considered, the "King of Rock-n-Roll" and is suppose to repesent Rock-n-roll and perform "Rock-n-Roll songs". But, as a fan, I'm glad he recorded all types of music, regardless of what the Critics and the rock-n-rollers, say ! Elvis could sing it all, and did it well.
sugartummy wrote on June 16, 2013
When Elvis died this song was all over the television. That's when I first noticed Elvis and became a lifelong fan. Now my six year old daughter loves the movie scene with Elvis and the puppet. In my head I "sing" this song with a complete different arrangment, as a very slow, sad ballad. Nanci Griffith has a Irish sounding version., thqt's very nice. The Joe Dowell version sounds awful.
TheKing01 wrote on November 23, 2013
The lyrics for this song are fabulous and the video only makes it that much better:) Elvis' performance with the puppet and the kids is so cute!! Friendly for all ages:)
McHobbit wrote on February 12, 2014
Being a German/American G.I baby whose maternal family originates from the very area the original song is from, I do have a soft spot for this one. Not a favorite by any means (the accordion is kinda cheesy) and most definitely not one of this best either. It always amazed me how well he did with the German lyrics. Some ex-G.I's I know who stayed behind wouldn't have done as well as he did. Funny enough, pretty much every GERMAN who has given me their opinion on this dislikes this song (except for my 79 year old grandmother). Particularly those of my mothers generation. Not to be picky or anything, but I'd just like to point out the it's mein Schatz, not schat. It's a common German term of endearment and that is clearly what he is saying.
bajo wrote on November 26, 2015
A European wide hit. Went to no 1 in many European countries. Take it or leave it, a cute little movie tune, and Elvis knocked it off with ease! The first half of the 60's were great years for Elvis in Europe! The song is ok and deserves it's merits.
Cruiser621 wrote on November 26, 2015
Movie fodder as usual; a very tepid song which fits in the movie but to listen to it on CD it's not very inspiring. Bland is the word.
DerekH wrote on March 05, 2019
When released in the Uk it was a #1 smash hit. The buying public loved it. The top selling single of the year.
Bill (BW) wrote on March 06, 2019
"Wooden Heart" is a great song. RCA missed an opportunity for a gold record by not releasing it is the U.S.A. in 1960 to promote the film, "G.I. Blues." The next year, Joe Dowell copied Elvis' recording an had a major hit with it.
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