Introduction:
Released in 1969, Clean Up Your Own Backyard falls under this more introspective period of Presley’s artistry. Though not one of his chart-topping hits, the song holds a certain weight within his vast discography. Here, we see Presley grappling with themes of personal responsibility and societal critique, all wrapped within a catchy, country-tinged melody.
Composed by the songwriting duo of Mac Davis and Billy Strange, Clean Up Your Own Backyard arrived during a tumultuous time in American history. The Vietnam War raged on, social unrest simmered, and the idealism of the early 1960s had begun to wane. This backdrop undoubtedly influenced the song’s message.
The track’s producer, Felton Jarvis, was a lynchpin in Presley’s later career. Jarvis, known for his polished, Nashville sound, helped steer Presley away from the raw rock and roll of his early days and towards a more commercially viable country-pop sound. Clean Up Your Own Backyard perfectly exemplifies this shift. The song features a twangy guitar line, a steady backbeat, and Presley’s unmistakable vocals, delivered with a touch of swagger and a hint of weariness.
Clean Up Your Own Backyard didn’t quite crack the Top 40 on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 45. However, its significance lies beyond commercial success. The song serves as a microcosm of Presley’s artistic evolution during the late 1960s. It showcases his ability to adapt to changing musical trends while still retaining his undeniable charisma.
The lyrics, though not explicitly political, carry a subtle message of introspection. The protagonist confronts someone who seems more interested in criticizing others’ flaws than addressing their own. The repeated refrain, “Clean up your own backyard, You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mine”, advocates for personal accountability and a focus on self-improvement before pointing fingers.
Clean Up Your Own Backyard may not be the most celebrated song in Presley’s catalog, but it offers a valuable glimpse into a fascinating period of his career. It’s a song that resonates with its simple yet powerful message, delivered by the King himself in a way that’s both timeless and distinctly American.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Clean Up Your Own Backyard”
Acting like he wrote the golden rules
Shaking his fist and speeching at me
Shouting from his soap box like a fool
Come Sunday morning he’s lying in bed
With his eye all red, with the wine in his head
Wishing he was dead when he oughta be
Heading for Sunday schoolClean up your own backyard
Oh don’t you hand me none of your lines
Clean up your own backyard
You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mineDrugstore cowboy criticizing
Acting like he’s better than you and me
Standing on the sidewalk supervising
Telling everybody how they ought to be
Come closing time ‘most every night
He locks up tight and out go the lights
And he ducks out of sight and he cheats on his wife
With his employeeClean up your own backyard
Oh don’t you hand me none of your lines
Clean up your own backyard
You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mine
Armchair quarterback’s always moanin’
Second guessing people all day long
Pushing, fooling and hanging on in
Always messing where they don’t belong
When you get right down to the nitty-gritty
Isn’t it a pity that in this big city
Not a one a’little bitty man’ll admit
He could have been a little bit wrong
Clean up your own backyard
Oh don’t you hand me, don’t you hand me none of your lines
Clean up your own backyard
You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mine
Clean up your own backyard
You tend to your business, I’ll tend to mine