Introduction:
Merle Haggard’s rendition of “In the Ghetto” appears on his 1977 tribute album, My Farewell to Elvis, released just two months after the death of Elvis Presley. Originally written by songwriter Mac Davis, “In the Ghetto” was a hit for Elvis in 1969, marking a poignant and socially conscious turn in his music. The song tells the tragic story of a young boy growing up in poverty, entangled in a cycle of violence and desperation, set against the backdrop of inner-city Chicago. Presley’s recording became iconic, praised for its empathetic portrayal of social issues, a theme rarely explored in his earlier music.
Haggard’s decision to cover “In the Ghetto” was both a tribute to Presley’s legacy and an expression of his own admiration. Known for his storytelling prowess and often personal reflections on American struggles, Haggard brought his unique perspective to the song. His cover shifts from the original’s rockabilly sound to a style more rooted in country, infusing it with a raw, heartfelt quality that highlights the song’s emotional weight. The release of My Farewell to Elvis allowed Haggard to honor the late icon in a way that resonated with both Presley and Haggard fans alike, capturing the universal themes of poverty and hardship that transcended their musical genres.
Haggard’s cover of “In the Ghetto” was part of a broader movement in country music to bring attention to real-world issues, an approach that he had long embraced in his own work. His version not only pays homage to Presley but also reinforces Haggard’s commitment to reflecting social reality through music, making his cover a memorable piece in both artists’ discographies.
Video:
Lyrics:
“In The Ghetto”
A poor little baby child is born in the Ghetto and his mama cries
Cause there’s one thing that she don’t need
Is another little hungry mouth to feed in the Ghetto.People don’t you understand the child needs a helping hand
He’ll grow to be an angry young man someday
Take a look at you and me are we too blind to see
Do we simply turn our heads and look the other way
As the world turns.
A hungry little boy with a running nose
Plays in the streets as the cold wind blows in the Ghetto
And his hunger burns
So he starts to roam the streets at night
And he learns how to steal and he learns how to fight in the Ghetto.
Then one night in desperation the young man breaks away
And he buys a gun and he steals a car and he tries to run
But don’t get far and his mama cries.
As a crowd gathers round and the angry young man
Paces down the street with a gun in his hand in the Ghetto
As the young man dies.
On a cold and gray Chicago morn
Another little baby child is born in the Ghetto
And his mama cries
(In Ghetto, oh, oh…)