Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[73smile]

I was reading today an excerpt from a book wherein the author talks to people associated closely with Elvis and a line he wrote made me begin thinking. He said that after 1972 Elvis just seemed to give up. He also said watching Elvis perform was like watching through a stain glass window...
Do any of you think that Elvis gave up in 1972 or after Aloha? I am curious. I do not think he gave up but I remember that he said in response to a question once that he did not see himself as having a long life. It is possible that Elvis felt that there was nothing new he could do except do a world tour and "The Con" was opposed to that. It was a challenge, like a true dramatic movie role, that Elvis did not get to experience.
Elvis was a man who was excited when presented with challenges but when he was low he really was low and I am sure most of you here have heard his quote " Sometimes I feel so alone. Even in the middle of a crowd."
I feel bad that so many will travel to Memphis to mark his death after 30 years, and yet they do not mark the death of their own loved ones. I did not know Elvis but somehow I believe he would see that as inappropriate.
Thoughts???
Muma

[Wanda June Hill]

It is great to make memories for kids-they will have them the rest of their lives-so one should make proud memories. Fun memories and deeply felt memories.
I do not think that Elvis gave up in 72-he did give up his dream of having a real family life, wife and kids to come home to etc:. But no he still was trying, hoping to be able to do the things he wanted however he was trapped by the espenses, the many people he supported and their needs and wants depended on him working. He also had obligations to others connected with his career-he had become such a big business it wasn't something he could just change over night or even over months.
And he believed money was meant to spend, to bring happiness to others and to do things with...so he kept going. Yes he did get depressed when his marriage was not fixable-his dream died hard...he had spoken of it all his life-a wife, kids, family, home-and then it was gone.
I think everything kind of weighted him down, he wasn't well physically and had never been truly strong as a child and only for a short time as an adult-then the strain of it all began to drag on him. He was human, but he wasn't able to say no to many people, some because he couldn't other's because he just couldnt not please them-as he said, "Why God, can't they just be happy?" They all had problems and they came to him for answers...and he provided the best he could. I think he did get depressed and that doing the shows might have been the only time he was happy, that he felt loved and needed and that he could DO something for other people-make them happy, give them freedom etc:. But only by doing that could he be happy and free, for that short time on stage. Then he went back to his world-and tried to make the best of it. I think Elvis was happy a lot of the time, people like to see and think of him as being full of remorse and down trodden-why I don't know-I guess because they didn't know him really, they just knew what was "out there" but that wasn't really him. He laughed alot, joked and had fun and enjoyed his daughter and hoped for a future with her etc: but then his health caught up with him as he had said it would, and his days were shortened. Yes that made him sad, very much so. He was afraid he couldn't go on like that and he was depressed. He would not have the surgery-they couldn't tell him it would fix anything for long, if they did the major surgery he would not be able to perform and do the kinds of things he wanted to do-he'd be restricted to his homes-he said he'd have to live behind a fence the rest of his life-he couldn't let the fans know about his health because he was afraid they would mob the places so much out of fear they'd never see him perform again, and he'd have to hide somewhere and never perform again. So he took the pills, he took the medication to stay alive as long as he could and he did it his way. And yes he was happy most of the time, sure he didn't want to die, but if that was the game plan, then he played the game. He said that God wasn't going to be mean to him, and He wasn't. He was at home, with his friends, and everything was alright. Quick and fast just like Elvis wanted it. If they thought he was an addict, so be it-he knew the truth and so did his friends and fans who knew him, who felt the real man behind that image. There are many of us...believe me. They just don't blow their horns very often-but one day they will all be. wjh

[Di]

I think Elvis was addicted to 2 things: Life and Music.

Di

[73smile]

I thought if anyone would have a thought on this it would be you because you knew Elvis.
I do not think he gave up and pills he took he believed he needed. Any surgery done would probably have made him feel worse because he always wanted to give his fans 100% and if laid up from surgery or limited in what he could do on stage may have made Elvis feel that he was failing at giving his life-long fans the ticket price worth.
I am happy to know that he did have happy days and I wish I could have known him like you did.
What a friend when he really, really needed one!!

[MaryInTheMorning]

I am happy to know that he did have happy days and I wish I could have known him like you did.
What a friend when he really, really needed one!!

AMEN Marjorie!

[Rainbow Light]

No, don't feel Elvis EVER gave up but with certain circumstances within and around in his life, sure I can understand how he must have felt low but yes, agree with the ladies above as regards Wanda:

I am happy to know that he did have happy days and I wish I could have known him like you did.
What a friend when he really, really needed one!!

Thank God, literally, that he had friends like you, Wanda, and your family, Charlie, Ed Parker around but specially you! Thank you!

Elvis gave on giving of himself right up to the very end; he was not a 100% saint or perfect being and he'd the the first to admit that himself but he did so much for so many, gave others help, comfort, love and a whole lot more, reaching out and touching souls for God in the best way he could as a man!

I say that on listening to "How Great Thou Art" at a concert performance close to the end of Elvis' life, early this morning and being so moved in spirit that I was in tears at the end for his pure and beautiful, amazing rendition! I've heard this loads of times but if you don't hear it for a little while then come back to it, WOW! WOW! WOW!!

He's still out there and watching over us, helping and guiding us from where he is, at peace with his beloved Mom and family, thanks Elvis, always!

with Love and best wishes, Sue

[MaryInTheMorning]

Elvis gave on giving of himself right up to the very end; he was not a 100% saint or perfect being and he'd the the first to admit that himself but he did so much for so many, gave others help, comfort, love and a whole lot more, reaching out and touching souls for God in the best way he could as a man! ****That he did and he did it all with GENUINE LOVE!! ****



He's still out there and watching over us, helping and guiding us from where he is, at peace with his beloved Mom and family, thanks Elvis, always! ****It is so comforting to know this and makes my heart so happy. Thank you Elvis. ******

[Elvis'SweetSweetSpirit]

[Rainbow Light]