About the song
Few songs in the American musical canon strike such a potent chord of patriotism, sorrow, and pride as **Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy**. This powerful medley, which Presley began performing live in the early 1970s, brings together three distinct yet thematically linked songs: *“Dixie”*, *“The Battle Hymn of the Republic”*, and *“All My Trials.”* Each of these individual pieces carries its own emotional and historical weight, but when stitched together through Presley’s electrifying performance, they become a sweeping commentary on the American experience — a reflection on its divisions, its enduring ideals, and its capacity for redemption.
At this stage in his career, **Elvis Presley** was no longer just the rebellious rock-and-roll figure of the 1950s. By the time of *“An American Trilogy”*, he had evolved into something grander, more reflective — almost mythic. This song allowed him to channel a deep, almost operatic gravity, portraying not only his vocal mastery but his emotional connection to the country he called home. The orchestration, building from the plaintive sweetness of *“Dixie”* to the stirring grandeur of *“The Battle Hymn of the Republic”*, with the spiritual balm of *“All My Trials”* threading them together, becomes a kind of miniature requiem for a fractured but enduring nation.
What makes **Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy** particularly striking is its duality. On one hand, it’s a patriotic anthem — grand, bold, unapologetically sentimental. On the other, it’s a lament, acknowledging the pain and complexity of America’s past: the Civil War, the South’s legacy, and the spiritual suffering of ordinary people. Presley’s interpretation doesn’t shy away from that complexity; instead, it embraces it, elevating the medley into a kind of musical prayer for reconciliation.
In many ways, this song is a showcase not only of **Presley’s** remarkable vocal power but also of his deep instinct for performance. Live renditions often found him standing motionless, eyes shut, as if communing with the very soul of the nation. It’s no wonder that audiences responded with thunderous applause and visible emotion — they weren’t just hearing a song; they were witnessing a kind of ritual.
Ultimately, **Elvis Presley – An American Trilogy** stands as one of the most ambitious and emotionally charged moments in Presley’s later repertoire. It captures his ability to transcend genre, to blend gospel, folk, and patriotic hymn into something uniquely his own — a testament to both his artistry and his complex relationship with the American identity.
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
