Introduction:
“Gonna Get Back Home Somehow” is a lesser-known but compelling track by Elvis Presley, recorded on March 18, 1962, at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee. The song is part of Presley’s album Pot Luck, released on May 18, 1962, featuring a blend of pop and rock elements reflective of his early 1960s musical style. Written by the prolific duo Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, the song captures themes of heartbreak and longing with a driving rhythm that complements Presley’s emotional vocal delivery.
The recording sessions for Pot Luck showcased an impressive lineup of studio musicians, including guitarist Scotty Moore, pianist Floyd Cramer, and saxophonist Boots Randolph. This track, along with others from the album, marked a transitional phase for Elvis, as he explored more complex, mature themes in his music while maintaining the energy that characterized his earlier rock and roll hits.
While not as widely recognized as Presley’s chart-toppers, “Gonna Get Back Home Somehow” has garnered appreciation among fans for its sincerity and distinct rockabilly vibe. The song represents a deep yearning to reunite with a lost love, a sentiment echoed across Elvis’s work but presented here with a unique musical urgency. The track did not reach mainstream popularity compared to some of his iconic singles, but it remains a testament to Elvis’s versatile talent and the synergy between him and his songwriting collaborators, Pomus and Shuman.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Gonna Get Back Home Somehow”
Hear that old train whistle
howling in the night
If that flyer’s southbound
Everything will be all rightI’m leaving now, leaving now, leaving now,
I’m gonna get back home somehowDon’t nobody tell me
baby’s been untrue
If she’s been unfaithful
I don’t know what I’ll doI’m leaving now, leaving now, leaving now
I’m gonna get back home somehowNever thought that I could miss her so
I never thought I could , now I knowThe sound of the old train whistle
Makes me want to cry
Reminds me of that lonely feeling
When I said goodbyeI’m leaving now, leaving now, leaving now
I’m gonna get back home somehow