Introduction:
“Your Cheatin’ Heart” is one of the iconic tracks recorded by Elvis Presley, though it was originally written and performed by country legend Hank Williams. The song holds a special place in both the country and rock ‘n’ roll genres due to its timeless theme of heartbreak and betrayal. Elvis’ rendition of the song was released in 1959 as a single, posthumously capitalizing on Hank Williams’ 1952 original version, which became a major hit in the country music world. Williams wrote “Your Cheatin’ Heart” about his troubled marriage and personal issues, and it became one of his most defining songs.
Elvis Presley recorded “Your Cheatin’ Heart” during his 1958 sessions, around the same time he was working on his gospel and pop tracks. Elvis’ cover was featured on the album Elvis for Everyone!, which was released in 1965 by RCA Victor. The album was a collection of previously unreleased recordings that spanned across different periods of his career. While not the first to bring the song to fame, Elvis infused it with his signature vocal style, bringing a unique crossover appeal to the track that blended his rock and roll influence with the country roots of Williams’ original version.
In terms of musical genre, Elvis’ “Your Cheatin’ Heart” is often classified as country, but it also contains elements of rock and roll, a genre that Elvis helped to popularize. His rendition carried the heartache and longing of the original but presented it with the crooning style that had endeared him to his audience.
Although Elvis’ version of “Your Cheatin’ Heart” didn’t achieve the same level of commercial success as some of his other hits, it stands as a testament to his ability to cover different genres and still maintain the emotional depth that made his performances so powerful.
Video:
Lyrics:
“Your Cheatin’ Heart”
Your cheatin’ heart will make you weep
You’ll cry and cry and try to sleep
But sleep won’t come the whole night through
Your cheatin’ heart will tell on youWhen tears come down like falling rain
You’ll toss around and call my name
You’re gonna walk that floor the way that I do
Your cheatin’ heart will tell on youWhen tears come down like falling rain
You’ll toss around and call my name
You’re gonna walk that floor just the way that I do
Your cheatin’ heart will tell on youYour cheatin’ heart will tell on you
Your cheatin’ heart will tell on you