Thursday, October 24, 2013

Blues at Dawn

There are many versions of Cole Porter's 1935 song Begin the Beguine performed by many artists. The most unique of these, however, has to be the one composed by Elvis Presley with friends.

In 1962, Elvis Presley told a friend, "I like the song Begin the Beguine. I like the melody, but I'd like to put new lyrics on it." When Cole Porter denied permission to alter the lyrics, Elvis wrote an original song based on it, set to Latin dance music, titled You'll Be Gone.

When Elvis later played the song for his wife Priscilla she said she liked his rock 'n' roll recordings better. Elvis was so devastated he never tried to write a song again. Here is Elvis' You'll Be Gone, his own interpretation of Begin the Beguine.



Fascinated by this strange story, I requested a friend and internet artist, Frankie Paradiso, who loves Meher Baba and does versions of Elvis songs, to adapt Elvis' song in his own unique way, and to dedicate it to Meher Baba if he didn't mind.

Here then is the version Paradiso wrote and performed, a rewritten rendition, of Elvis Presley's rewritten rendition, of Cole Porter's original song Begin the Beguine.

It's called Blues at Dawn.



{lyrics}

BLUES AT DAWN

SWEET LORD, WHEN IT RAINS
WE BLESS YOUR TEARS FROM HEAVEN
NO MORE SHACKLES OR CHAINS
LET US EMBRACE FOREVER

OUR LOVE MAY NOT BE
A COLD, DYING EMBER
FOR WITH THE DAWN
YOU’LL BE GONE

YOUR PEARLS OF WISDOM
FEEL LIKE HEAVEN DESCENDING
YOUR BENIGN SMILE
SEEMS NEVER-ENDING
YET COME DAWN, YOU’LL BE GONE

BENEVOLENT BABA
MAY YOUR MERCY POUR DOWN
ON HAUGHTY LORDS AND HUMBLE LEPERS
ON HOLY FOOLS TO MAKE THEM BOW
FOR WITH THE DAWN
YOU’LL BE GONE

MERCIFUL LORD, EVEN YOUR DRIZZLE
WILL QUENCH OUR THIRST, DROP BY DROP
LET’S COUNT OUR BLESSINGS
AND SHARE OUR CROP

FOR BY DAWN, YOU’LL HAVE GONE
FOR BY DAWN, YOU’LL HAVE GONE
FOR BY DAWN, YOU’LL HAVE GONE
FOR BY DAWN, YOU’LL HAVE GONE!

1 comment:

  1. Dear Chris and Megan Ott, I'm so flattered and honoured to have been given this golden opportunity to appear on your fabulous site - let's hope this ode to our Beloved Avatar will reach many hearts and souls ... Best wishes and thank you so much for your unique request and inspiration, Frankie

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