Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Wanda June Hill]

I don't know exactly what he meant by "not giving" other than to say that he felt he wasn't giving anything back during those years of as he called them "babysitter" films, stupid and belittling to how he felt about making movies-that they didn't offer anything of value to people, and his character was one of being a user he thought-shallow and empty. And too, he never did feel that he had truly given back what he had received- that is why he gave away so many of his things, he was "receiving" more than he was "giving back" in his performances etc:...especially in the last couple of years. He couldn't be the "man they thought he was' (being sick, missing shows, failing to "look" the part, the image thing again) so he gave them expensive gifts-his rings, jewelry, even his books in some cases, his personal ones. His clothes, whatever someone might like or express interest in... maybe that's what he was referring to-he had it all, and he took it and failed to be worthy of because he couldn't be that guy though he was trying with his best effort-he failed to be what they expected to see-he saw them looking at him, he saw their surprised and often disappointed expressions during that last touring session. And being the perfectionest he was where he was concerned, he was a failure. When he wrote that, he must have been contempulating his life at that moment in time...he was having to cancel shows, wasn't singing well, looked in his eyes awful, couldn't perform as expected and he put it down as he saw it.
And he failed as a husband, wasn't sure he was making it as a father and then his career was asking more of him than he could give. It fits the way he was so hard on himself-expected so much of himself and had always been able to pull it out and do the job as he put it-referring to being sick or something and then getting his act together and doing a good show. He said he couldn't make it happen any more and that really bothered him. He was not giving his fans their moneys worth...a thing that was always important to him.
That's my feeling about what he said in that poem, but I may be totally off the mark- it also seems like an upbeat poem, one of see, I did it okay kind of thing. wjh

[Lighthouseseeker]

I don't think he was totally satisfied what he gave back .. perfectionist he was.. but as I said before ,he couldn't understand what he meant to people who loved him or how much he gave..he never had an Elvis in his life as we do..so I don't expect him to see himself through our eyes..poor baby,he is wrong..I owe him instead and don't know a way personally to pay back to him..

[ALNA]

Here the same too, VERY SLOW

[Amanda Viola]

I owe him instead and don't know a way personally to pay back to him..

Dear Zey,

I think you are hard on you too, saying what is quoted above. As I see it, the best way to "pay back" is to give what we have received to others. As El'vis says, what he gives is not his, nor ours. Love he gave, Love he is giving now. You too Zey, through your drawings and your general concern for others and the world. Its only that, like him, you are not fully aware of it.

[Rainbow Light]

AMEN!!

[Blue Moon]

Wanda, I have a question re the ring Elvis gave Ann-Margaret, the one she flashed to reporters in Europe. I know you mentioned this in your book, yet I'm still a little confused, maybe 'cuz I'm dense at times, but was that ring a "friendship" ring from Elvis to Ann-Margaret, or was it really an engagement ring?

[Wanda June Hill]

I don't know Laurie, he never said and I didn't ask. I think that they were on the verge-but I can't say that for sure; I know he liked her alot and he always sent flowers at her opening nights wherever she was playing.
I don't know that he did that for anyother entertainer he knew, never heard that he did. Anyway, they both married and she's still with her hubby, but of course he did not have the kind of career that Elvis had and who knows what would have come of their relationship. She wanted a career also, it would have been very difficult as he wasn't that type of guy-his wife was to be home with the kids, etc: and he was the jealous type also...someone would have had to give-but I don't think it would have been him. Anyway, I don't know-only know what the papers had to say about it and how angry he was and the problems it brought about for him with his "other girl". I know that Ann was a forbidden topic-for quite some time. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Having read Ann Margret's biography it's safe to say that, while she maintained a strong friendship for Elvis always, her love of showbusiness and the need for a career would have prevented a marriage taking place between them.