Introduction:
“My Desert Serenade” by Elvis Presley was released on November 1, 1965, as part of the soundtrack for the movie Harum Scarum. This song, recorded on February 25, 1965, at RCA’s Studio B in Nashville, is a part of the pop-rock genre with distinct influences from Middle Eastern music, a common theme in the film it accompanied. The song’s music was composed by Stanley Gelber and featured a variety of instrumentalists, including guitars, drums, tambourine, congas, piano, flute, and oboe. Elvis was backed by his frequent collaborators, The Jordanaires, who provided the vocal harmonies.
The Harum Scarum soundtrack, though not among Elvis’s most critically acclaimed works, showcases his versatility as a performer, adapting to different musical styles to fit the film’s narrative. Despite its mixed reviews, “My Desert Serenade” and the rest of the album are examples of Elvis’s prolific output during the 1960s, where he ventured into various musical directions for his film projects.
Video:
Lyrics:
“My Desert Serenade”
(from “Harum Scarum” soundtrack)
A lover’s melody, to bring you close to me
It’s a tender lullaby, born of golden sand and sky
The song is new, and it’s calling you
Tonight beside the desert palmsCome let me take you in my arms
Come here my serenade, my desert serenade
Wherever lovers dwell, it weaves it’s magic spell
Soon a thousand dreams will start,
And romance will fill your heart
My lips conceal, love that’s warm and real
Give me a chance to hold you near
You’ll see a brand new world appear
So come and hear, my desert serenade, my desert serenade,
My desert serenade