Introduction:
“Flaming Star” is a song performed by Elvis Presley, the legendary rock ‘n’ roll icon, which was released in 1960. It is part of the soundtrack for the movie Flaming Star, a Western film in which Presley starred as the lead character, Pacer Burton. The movie was directed by Don Siegel and is set in the American West, telling the story of a man torn between his white settler family and his Native American heritage.
The song “Flaming Star” was written by two highly regarded songwriters, Sid Wayne and Sherman Edwards, who collaborated with Presley on other musical projects during this period. Originally, the song was not included in the final cut of the film, but it was recorded and later released as part of Presley’s musical catalog.
Musically, the song fits into the pop and rock ‘n’ roll genre that defined much of Elvis’ early career. However, unlike many of Presley’s more raucous hits, “Flaming Star” has a softer and more somber tone, reflecting the dramatic and conflicted nature of the movie’s plot. The song’s melody is more folk-infused than many of Presley’s other tracks from this period, helping to set the atmosphere of the frontier setting depicted in the movie.
While “Flaming Star” was not as commercially successful as some of Presley’s other singles, it still achieved moderate success. The soundtrack, featuring this song, reached fans of both his music and his films, further cementing his status as a versatile entertainer. Additionally, the song gained more recognition over time as part of Presley’s body of work during his transition into more serious acting roles. This era in Presley’s career marked a shift, as he moved from the formulaic teenage heartthrob roles in musicals to more complex, dramatic characters. The movie Flaming Star itself became one of Elvis’s most critically appreciated films, with the song serving as a highlight of his continued musical dominance during the 1960s.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Flaming Star”
Ev’ry man, has a flaming star
A flaming star, over his shoulder
And when a man, sees his flaming star
He knows his time, his time has comeFlaming star, don’t shine on me, flaming star
Flaming star, keep behind me, flaming star
There’s a lot of livin’ I’ve got to do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Flaming starWhen I ride, I feel that flaming star
That flaming star, over my shoulder
And so I ride, front of that flaming star
Never lookin’ around, never lookin’ aroundFlaming star, don’t shine on me, flaming star
Flaming star, keep behind me, flaming star
There’s a lot of livin’ I’ve got to do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Flaming starOne fine day, I’ll see that flaming star
That flaming star, over my shoulder
And when I see, that old flaming star
I’ll know my time, my time has comeFlaming star, don’t shine on me, flaming star
Flaming star, keep behind me, flaming star
There’s a lot of livin’ I’ve got to do
Give me time to make a few dreams come true
Flaming star