Introduction:
“It’s Over” is one of the memorable performances by Elvis Presley, delivered during the legendary live broadcast of Aloha from Hawaii in 1973. This concert, which took place at the Honolulu International Center (HIC) on January 14, 1973, was not only a landmark event in Elvis’ career but also in television history, as it was the first concert to be broadcast live via satellite across multiple countries. Elvis’ rendition of “It’s Over” from this performance has since become an iconic moment in his later career, symbolizing his enduring talent and his ability to express deep emotion through song.
The song “It’s Over” was originally written by Jimmie Rodgers, a well-known country music singer and songwriter. It was not one of Elvis’ original tracks but was adapted into his repertoire as he shifted towards more emotionally powerful and dramatic ballads in the 1970s. Elvis performed “It’s Over” live on various occasions, but the version from Aloha from Hawaii is perhaps the most well-known due to the scale and reach of the performance.
In terms of genre, “It’s Over” fits within the realm of country pop and adult contemporary, with elements of soft rock and orchestral arrangements that were typical of Elvis’ live shows during this period. The song’s lyrics center around heartbreak and the end of a relationship, themes that resonated with audiences as Elvis himself was going through personal struggles at the time, including his 1973 divorce from Priscilla Presley. His performance of the song during the Aloha from Hawaii concert was marked by its emotional intensity and heartfelt delivery, qualities that defined Elvis’ later career.
The Aloha from Hawaii concert itself was a groundbreaking achievement. Not only was it watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people globally, but it also marked Elvis as the first solo artist to reach such a vast audience through live television. The concert was later released as a live album, and “It’s Over” was included as one of the tracks, further cementing its place in Elvis’ celebrated discography. The Aloha from Hawaii album topped the Billboard charts and received critical acclaim, adding to the legacy of both the concert and Elvis’ career during the 1970s.
Video:
Lyrics:
“It’s Over”
If time were not a moving thing
And I could make it stay
This hour of love we share
Would always be
There’d be no coming day
To shine a morning light
And make us realize our night is overWhen you walk away from me
There is no place to put my hand
Except to shade my eyes against the sun
That rises over the land
I watch you walk away
Somehow I have to let you go
Cause it’s overIf you knew just how I really feel
You might return and yet
There are so many times
That people have to love and then forget
Oh there might have been a way somehow
I have to force myself to say
It’s overSo I turn my back,
Turn my collar to the wind
Move along in silence
Trying not to think at all
I set my feet before me
Walk the silent street before me
Now it’s overIf time were not a moving thing
And I could make you stay
This hour of love we share
Would always be
There’d be no coming day
To shine a morning light
And make us realize our night is overIt’s over