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Yoga Is As Yoga Does

Rating:
2.0 / 5

Words & Music: Gerald Nelson Fred Burch

Well I can see that you and yoga will never do

Yoga is as yoga does there's no in-between
Your either with it on the ball or you've blown the scene
I can see lookin' at you, you just can't get settled
How can I even move, twistin' like a pretzel

(Yoga is, yoga does)
(There's no in-between)
(Your either with it all the way) Or you've blown the scene
(Or you've blown the scene)

Come on come on, untwist my legs
Pull my arms a lot
How did I get so tied up
In this yoga knot
You tell me just how I can take this yoga serious
When all it ever gives to me is a pain in my posteriors

(Yoga is, yoga does)
(There's no in-between)
(Your either with it all the way) Or you've blown the scene
(Or you've blown the scene)

Stand upside down on your head, feet against the wall
A simple yoga exercise done by one and all
Now cross your eyes and hold your breath, look just like a clown
Yoga's sure to catch you if you come falling down

(Yoga is, yoga does)
(There's no in-between)
(Your either with it all the way) Or you've blown the scene
(Or you've blown the scene)

(Yoga is, yoga does)
(There's no in-between)
(Your either with it all the way) Or you've blown the scene
(Or you've blown the scene)

Recordingdate: 1966/09/29, first released on: Easy Come, Easy Go (album)

Musicians

Musicians who contributed to the first recording of Yoga Is As Yoga Does:

(guitar)
(guitar)
(guitar)
(bass)
(drums)
(drums)
(drums)
(organ)
(harmonica)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(vocals)
(sax)
(sax)
(sax)
(trombone)
(trumpet)
(harpsichord)

Availability

Find available albums with Yoga Is As Yoga Does.

ElvisDayByDay wrote on April 21, 2008
The lyrics open with "Well I can see that you and yoga will never do", that should have been enough information for Elvis not to record this ... "Well I can see that you and this song will never do".
old shep wrote on April 22, 2008
marginally better than Old Mcdonald
Deano1 wrote on February 25, 2010
A song that was used in a scene from "Easy Come, Easy Go" that tried to be funny, but wasn't. A cute line here or there, but nothing that would make you laugh out loud. Easily the worst song in the movie and remember this movie had the song "The Love Machine". Not as bad as "Barefoot Ballad", but one I wish he hadn't recorded.
lsp2231 wrote on June 01, 2011
The only time Elvis recorded a Johnny Cash-type song (the shuffle beat) in the studio.
Deke Rivers 6 wrote on June 01, 2011
Song of the Day....must have been a bad day !
derekd wrote on June 01, 2011
Another example of Elvis taking a poor movie song and turning it into a good one. He did try and make it better. And nearly did it. But 1966 really was a low point in his career.
dgirl wrote on June 01, 2011
There is nothing good about this song. Song title, lyrics , melody and even performance. Elvis sounds about as bored as the listener. Terrible song & film.
GEORGE (GK) wrote on June 01, 2011
The song, was meant to be heard, in the Film, with a visual. (I think it was a fun movie scene).Unfortunately, the song doesn't play as well on Vinyl, CD, and MP3, etc.. where the Music critics, ripped it apart, and took it out of context, and don't see the humor in it. Its not Elvis doing a Classic rocking performance, by any means, but its a fun moment in a film. Nothing more.
ElvisSacramento wrote on October 26, 2012
There is absolutely nothing good about this pathetic, ridiculous and embarrassing song. In my opinion, it's the only bad song from the "Easy Come, Easy Go" soundtrack album.
NONE000000 wrote on February 03, 2013
An indefensibly bad song, like Old MacDonald, Barefoot Ballad, No Room To Rhumba in a Sports Car and Ito Eats. I love Elvis, as I guess we all do on this website, but in many ways this must be Elvis at his most uncool and unhip. But maybe that is in part because I think yoga is actually pretty cool. One thing I def will say that is positive: Elvis looked great in the black turtleneck he wears in the scene in the movie.
TBG wrote on May 28, 2013
I think it's a fun song!! It's just movie fluff, but I prefer fun movie fluff rather than really bad songs like A Dogs Life (bark...)
sugartummy wrote on June 03, 2013
There is an album by Gerald Nelson called:"Songs I wrote for Elvis". On this "Yoga is.." is done as a duet. It still sucks. Nelson wrote 19 songs for Elvis. Thank God only 4 were recorded. In my head I hear "Yoga is.." very slow with sitar. Then it kinda makes sence. One of his worst recordings.
Gorse wrote on June 20, 2013
Movie fluff that is acceptable when one is in a movie theatre with a charming companion, but loses its way when transferred to vinyl. Fortunately there are several hundred better Elvis recordings that will be passed down to the next generations.
shawnrw wrote on December 21, 2013
What you gonna do with something like this. Out of context of the film, it makes little sense, even within the film it is really silly and borderline dumb. I give Elvis points for doing his contractual duty and recorded it. I guess this was Colonel Parker's idea of art or entertainment. Elvis should have fired him.
lsp2231 wrote on May 30, 2014
A funny song with a Johnny Cash-type beat.
In-A-Flash wrote on May 31, 2014
This song is very poor. Elvis was very spiritual and deep into esoteric literature at the time. He was forced to do this song against his own beliefs. Elvis sounds disengaged beyond doubt and before the next movie there was even the sad slip-and-fall incident that allowed Parker to gain full control again and get the esoteric literature even burned.
Steve V wrote on August 08, 2014
All I can say is, lesson still not learned. That was either for Elvis still recording rubbish like this in 1966 or for me still buying it in 1966 and expecting better.
Steve V wrote on August 08, 2014
All I can say is, lesson still not learned. That was either for Elvis still recording rubbish like this in 1966 or for me still buying it in 1966 and expecting better. To compare it in anyway to Cash is an insult.
lsp2231 wrote on August 08, 2014
All I was saying was that the song has the typical boom-chicka beat of many, many Johnny Cash songs. No insult intended - but no praise for overrated Johnny Cash either.
rai wrote on January 15, 2015
A song that fits the movie scene. Something different but not so interesting. But I won't skip the song when it is played on my CD.
shoesuedeblues wrote on January 15, 2015
I bought the EP as I did all the releases from 1956 onwards and was sad to know that after so many fine Elvis EPs this was his swan song. Again the movie had a paper thin plot, Elvis acting performance was wooden and the songs were to be honest crap. Unfunny, unworthy of a great talent
Natha wrote on January 15, 2015
In those days yoga was quite often far from its original sincerity and more a sort of hippy way. The hype was in full bloom and (that type of presentation of) yoga was ridiculed by the establishment. In the movie it has that hippy flavor. So in a way it was a funny scene in the movie. Should Elvis have recorded this? Certainly not. On the other hand let's not forget in those days there were so many fluffy non-sense songs made by the then popular groups that it does not stand out on its own. I would have been more happy if Elvis had not joined that stream of silly songs. He should have followed his heart more and the contracts less.
trudygillenwater wrote on January 15, 2015
I may be called nucking futs but I really like this one.
shawnrw wrote on April 09, 2016
I realize this song is done for comedic scene in the movie, but I'm sorry I actually get embarrassed for Elvis over this one.
Cruiser621 wrote on June 20, 2017
I don't know why i"m dignifying a response to this absolute crap. Nuff said. 1-star for sure.
JerryNodak wrote on March 12, 2020
I bought the EP back in he day. I went to a first run showing of the movie at the time. Enjoyed the movie. Still watch it occasionally. Still play the songs. If I had known then what I know now about the movie and its music, I wouldn't change a thing.
GBK42 wrote on September 24, 2022
It's screwy, to be sure, but "Yoga Is As Yoga Does" is the wonderful kind of screwy for my money. Fun in the film, as is on record. Enjoyed the whole Easy Come, Easy Go soundtrack back then, still do today. "The Love Machine" is also one of those screwy tunes that happens to be "so bad that it is good." Four stars.
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