About the song
Few performances in popular music history manage to fuse cultural identity, political resonance, and artistic grandeur with the weight and poignancy of **_Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy_**. This remarkable piece, often considered one of the most stirring moments in **Presley’s** concert repertoire, is not merely a medley—it is a deeply symbolic homage to the complexity of American history. As one listens, it becomes clear that this song is more than music; it is a layered narrative, wrapped in melody and imbued with the bittersweet contradictions of the American experience.
**_An American Trilogy_**, arranged by country singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury, is a medley that combines three 19th-century songs: **“Dixie,”** **“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,”** and **“All My Trials.”** Each of these songs represents a different facet of American heritage. “Dixie” is often associated with the American South and the Confederacy, a symbol of nostalgia and pride for some, and painful memory for others. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” on the other hand, is the voice of the Union and the moral fervor of abolitionist righteousness. “All My Trials,” a Bahamian lullaby adapted into a folk spiritual, reflects the personal sorrow and quiet endurance of those who suffer under oppression.
When **Elvis Presley** performed this medley—particularly in his early 1970s concert years—he wasn’t just offering a vocal showcase. Backed by orchestration that moved from the gentle to the majestic, **Presley** tapped into the emotional core of each section. His rendition does not resolve the tensions within the trilogy; instead, it honors them. The juxtaposition of songs mirrors the divisions and hopes of a nation grappling with its past, and **Presley’s** powerful delivery lifts the piece into a realm of almost sacred reflection.
What makes **_An American Trilogy_** so compelling is its emotional range and historical depth. In the hands—and voice—of **Elvis Presley**, the medley becomes a unifying moment, not by erasing difference, but by acknowledging it with reverence. It’s a performance that speaks as much to the American soul as it does to its ear.
Video
Lyrics
One, two
One, two, three, four
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before we fall apart at the seams
We’ve got to patch it up baby
We can’t let time unravel our dreams
Let’s go back and touch the past
One more night is all I ask
Get that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We got to patch it up baby
Let’s sweep out all the cobwebs in our hearts
We’ve got to patch it up baby
Before indifference pulls us apart
Don’t let a good love die
Let’s give it just one more try
With that feeling, that old feeling, feelin-eelin’
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
We can patch it up baby
Patch it up with a whole lotta love
With a whole lotta love
