Introduction:
“If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley is a powerful anthem of hope and unity, recorded in 1968 for his NBC television special, often referred to as the ’68 Comeback Special. The song was penned by songwriter Earl Brown, inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech, and reflected Elvis’s emotional response to the turbulent events of that year, particularly the assassinations of King and Robert F. Kennedy.
Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s manager, originally wanted a Christmas song to conclude the TV special, but Presley and the show’s director, Steve Binder, felt a more socially relevant song would resonate better. Brown quickly wrote “If I Can Dream” to reflect the ideals of peace, brotherhood, and a hopeful future. When Elvis first heard the song, he connected deeply with its message and delivered a heartfelt performance in the studio.
Released in November 1968 as a single, “If I Can Dream” reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant moment in Elvis’s career as it redefined his public image. This performance showed a different side of Presley, one deeply in tune with the social issues of the time, and helped him regain his status as a leading figure in popular music.
Despite its popularity, Elvis never performed the song live after the special, but it remains one of his most iconic recordings, symbolizing his desire for a better world in a time of civil unrest.
Video:
Lyrics:
“If I Can Dream”
(from “Elvis (NBC TV Special)” soundtrack)
Got to be birds flying higher in a sky more blue
If I can dream of a better land
Where all my brothers walk hand in hand
Tell me why, oh why, oh why can’t my dream come true?There must be peace and understanding sometime
Strong winds of promise that will blow away all the doubt and fear
If I can dream of a warmer sun
Where hope keeps shining on everyone
Tell me why, oh why, oh why won’t that sun appear?
We’re lost in a cloud with too much rain
We’re trapped in a world that’s troubled with pain
But as long as a man has the strength to dream
He can redeem his soul and fly
Deep in my heart there’s a trembling question
Still I am sure that the answer’s gonna come somehow
Out there in the dark, there’s a beckoning candle
And while I can think,
While I can talk
While I can stand,
While I can walk
While I can dream,
Please let my dream come true… right now
Let it come true right now
Oh, yeah