About the song
There are certain songs that seem to float outside the bounds of time—melodies that, despite changing tastes and passing decades, continue to stir something deeply human in all of us. **Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley** is one such performance. Though the song itself dates back to the 1950s, and has been covered by countless artists, **Elvis Presley’s** late-career rendition stands as one of the most emotionally gripping interpretations ever recorded. It’s not simply a cover—it’s a moment of raw vulnerability from a man often enshrined in myth.
First penned in 1955 by Alex North and Hy Zaret, **Unchained Melody** was originally written for a now-obscure prison film titled *Unchained*. Over time, it became one of the most recorded love songs in history. The most commercially successful version remains that of The Righteous Brothers, but **Elvis’s** interpretation—recorded just months before his death in 1977—offers a different kind of resonance. Performed live during a concert in Rapid City, South Dakota, the rendition captures a haunting poignancy. This wasn’t the young, hip-swiveling **Elvis** of the ‘50s. This was the older, wearier King—his voice frayed with time, but filled with unfiltered emotion.
What makes **Unchained Melody – Elvis Presley** so striking is the fragility of the performance. You can hear the tremble in his voice, the weight behind every note. He sits alone at the piano, choosing to accompany himself—a rare and intimate moment in any of his shows. It’s as though he’s no longer performing for a crowd, but for himself, or perhaps for someone he’s lost. The effect is deeply moving.
In many ways, this recording serves as a fitting coda to **Elvis Presley’s** tumultuous life. With all the fame, scandal, and spectacle stripped away, what remains is a man reaching for something eternal through music. **Unchained Melody**, in his hands, becomes less a love song and more a soulful plea—a yearning for connection that speaks directly to the human spirit.
Video
Lyrics
Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
Time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much
Are you still mine?
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
Lonely rivers flow
To the sea, to the sea
To the open arms of the sea
Lonely rivers cry
Wait for me, wait for me
I’ll be coming home, wait for me
Oh, my love, my darling
I’ve hungered for your touch
A long, lonely time
I need your love
I need your love
God speed your love to me
